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Living in
Oak Creek.
About
Life in Oak Creek
Oak Creek offers the suburban stability of a Milwaukee-area community with genuine economic momentum — the city has added major employers like IKEA and Amazon, which translates to job availability and lower unemployment at 2.8%. Housing is reasonable for the region at a median home value around $331,700, though that does reflect the broader Midwest market; median rent sits at $1,452 monthly. The commute to Milwaukee proper averages about 23 minutes, manageable for those working downtown.
Oak Creek at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Foreign-Born
12.1%
Broadband Internet
93.1%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Oak Creek: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oak Creek, the largest foreign-born group is from India (25.3%), and 5.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.9%
of households
Married Couples
47.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 34% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Oak Creek
In Oak Creek, rent runs 34% above the WI average, and home values are 24% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,839
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $406,602 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WI average
Unemployment in Oak Creek and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oak Creek is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oak Creek Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metro area
Commute23 min avg
How Oak Creek residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oak Creek, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 63 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oak Creek runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,792.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oak Creek Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Milwaukee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Milwaukee County, which includes Oak Creek, the most common type is winter weather, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Winter Weather | $65.8M |
| 2024 | 20 | Winter Weather | $87,500 |
| 2023 | 22 | Winter Storm | $97,500 |
| 2022 | 31 | Winter Weather | $116,500 |
| 2021 | 20 | Winter Weather | $21,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Weather | $10.9M |
| 2019 | 32 | Winter Weather | $66,500 |
| 2018 | 34 | Winter Weather | $555,500 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Oak Creek is about 4% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Milwaukee County, which includes Oak Creek, is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Oak Creek is about 4% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oak Creek has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.6"
Annual Snowfall
48.7"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 1.65" |
| Feb | 33°F | 18°F | 1.84" |
| Mar | 42°F | 28°F | 2.20" |
| Apr | 53°F | 37°F | 4.08" |
| May | 64°F | 47°F | 4.18" |
| Jun | 75°F | 57°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 80°F | 65°F | 3.51" |
| Aug | 79°F | 64°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 73°F | 56°F | 3.30" |
| Oct | 61°F | 44°F | 3.40" |
| Nov | 48°F | 33°F | 2.14" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.90" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oak Creek
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Oak Creek's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.9 mi away · Franklin
Ascension St Francis Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Milwaukee
Aurora St Lukes Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Milwaukee
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.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oak Creek
Oak Creek's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 39.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oak Creek (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
13.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 16,758 students · in-state tuition $10,916 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,268 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,660 students · in-state tuition $53,270 · 81% graduate · median earnings $83,810 (10 yrs after entry)
Milwaukee School of Engineering
11.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,654 students · in-state tuition $52,228 · 73% graduate · median earnings $92,761 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
13.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 1,037 students · in-state tuition $20,497 · 37% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 943 students · in-state tuition $37,360 · 63% graduate · median earnings $68,940 (10 yrs after entry)
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
10.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 837 students · in-state tuition $45,218 · 60% graduate · median earnings $47,843 (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: Pullman National Historical Park, 83 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oak Creek
Oak Creek has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (83 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
83 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oak Creek
Oak Creek Public Library
8040 S. 6th St., Oak Creek
Cities Near Oak Creek
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oak Creek?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oak Creek FAQ
Is Oak Creek, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Oak Creek's median rent is $1,452/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $96,555/year. Median home value is $331,700.
Is Oak Creek, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Oak Creek's violent crime rate was 72 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 1792 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oak Creek, Wisconsin?⌄
Oak Creek has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oak Creek, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Oak Creek is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,452/month and median household income is $96,555/year. The median home value is $331,700. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oak Creek, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Oak Creek is 23 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