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Living in
Oakland.
About
Life in Oakland
Oakland is a community of 12,700 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $162,862, median rent runs about $1,383 per month, and median home values are around $591,300. Unemployment is low at 4.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Oakland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Foreign-Born
13.8%
Broadband Internet
95.7%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.8% foreign-born, most often from Ecuador
Who lives in Oakland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oakland, the largest foreign-born group is from Ecuador (17.0%), and 9.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.1%
of households
Married Couples
62.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.81
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Oakland
In Oakland, rent runs 20% below the NJ average, and home values are 30% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
92.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $769,234 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Oakland
Unemployment in Bergen County, which includes Oakland, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Oakland: Bergen County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bergen County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Oakland is about 1% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Oakland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.5 min avg
How Oakland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oakland, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oakland runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
54
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
347.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oakland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bergen County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bergen County, which includes Oakland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Flash Flood | $12,500 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,500 |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $548,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $340,000 |
| 2018 | 36 | Flash Flood | $529,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bergen County, county-wide
Oakland is about 1% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bergen County, which includes Oakland, is typically good — 258 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
258
per year
Moderate Days
101
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bergen County, county-wide
Oakland is about 1% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oakland has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.6"
Annual Snowfall
28.1"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 20°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 41°F | 20°F | 2.71" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.17" |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 3.58" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 5.13" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.65" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.57" |
| Sep | 76°F | 56°F | 3.95" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 4.37" |
| Nov | 53°F | 35°F | 3.77" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 4.05" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oakland
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Oakland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.8 mi away · Wyckoff
Chilton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Pompton Plains
Good Samaritan Hospital of Suffern
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Suffern
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oakland
Oakland's student/teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 56.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oakland (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,557 students · in-state tuition $5,060 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Passaic County Community College
8.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,260 students · in-state tuition $6,660 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
9.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,778 students · in-state tuition $30,880 · 53% graduate · median earnings $46,839 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,774 students · in-state tuition $40,840 · 58% graduate · median earnings $64,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,203 students · in-state tuition $19,354 · 71% graduate · median earnings $66,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,171 students · in-state tuition $18,693 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,447 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oakland
Oakland has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
21 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
21 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
24 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oakland
Oakland Public Library
2 Municipal Plaza, Oakland
Cities Near Oakland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oakland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oakland FAQ
Is Oakland, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Oakland's median rent is $1,383/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $162,019/year. Median home value is $591,300.
Is Oakland, New Jersey safe?⌄
Oakland's violent crime rate was 54 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 347 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oakland, New Jersey?⌄
Bergen County, which includes Oakland, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oakland, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Oakland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,383/month and median household income is $162,019/year. The median home value is $591,300. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oakland, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Oakland is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from