Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Ratings
Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Health & Safety
The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.
Schools
The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.
Located in the state of Tennessee, Oakland is a small city with a population of 8,135 residents. At 83%, the majority of the Oakland population is White; this is followed by 15% Black and 0% Asian. Oakland is known to be family friendly as more than 70% of the population has already tied the knot. It might also be worth noting that 46% of residents also have children under the age of 18. An important consideration when living in Oakland is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 37 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Oakland could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Tennessee if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Oakland, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, commute, employment and more.
Oakland, TN receives 65 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #133 in Tennessee and #11,310 in the USA. If we consider each of the categories individually, we see that Oakland ranks well for crime (A+), cost of living (A+), employment (A) and housing (A). Unfortunately for Oakland, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and education (F).
Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Oakland, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 100 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.
The unemployment rate in Oakland has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.33%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Oakland can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Assuming that Oakland meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Oakland. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Oakland are simply unattainable. The median home price for Oakland homes is $186,600, which is 27.8% higher than the Tennessee average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Oakland, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 22.6% lower than the Tennessee average.
| Statistic | Oakland | Tennessee | National |
| Average one way commute | 37min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 81.3% | 83.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.3% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.8% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.1% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.7% | 3.9% | 4.6% |
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