Moving to Oakland is something many people do every year for a variety of reasons. We did some research and compiled some facts for this article to help you make your decision. How big is Oakland? Oakland has a population of about 413,000 and it is a diverse city with approximately 34% African-American, 26% White, 17% Asian and a number of Native American and Pacific Islanders. How much is housing? The median home value is $678,000 and the average rent is $2,781. You can find small condos for much less than the median home value though. For example, there might a few for $400,000 or slightly less. For renters, there are some studios for about $1,500 and shared living situations for $1,000 or less. If the median home value in San Francisco is well over one million dollars, moving to Oakland may seem like a bargain. Many people living in San Francisco have no chance of owning a home so places like Oakland, San Leandro and San Lorenzo are much more affordable for housing. According to a MarketWatch article, to live comfortably in Oakland you would need an annual salary of $80,000 and $110,000 in San Francisco. Are there jobs? Oakland has long been a center of industrial and business activities, here are some of the top employers: Kaiser Permanente Oakland Unified Schools County of Alameda City of Oakland BART State of CA Children’s Hospital Oakland Alameda Health System UPS Southwest Airlines Moving to Oakland could be a good choice for someone who is open to a range of employment options. For example, there are a number of startups and tech companies in Oakland, in addition to the more established organizations like Kaiser and BART. How is the weather? The average daytime high temperatures range from 58 in January to 75 in August. Of course, there are lower temperatures on winter nights and in summer some days are well past 75. There are only about 23 inches of rain each year and hail is possible but not at all common. When we think of California, we might immediately expect warm, sunny weather, but Oakland has a mild climate which includes many days with fog. Compared with San Francisco, of course, there is less of that and Oakland is warmer as well. If you are moving to Oakland from San Francisco you might be pleased with the slightly better weather. If you are moving from LA, San Jose, San Diego or the Inland areas you might be a little surprised that Oakland is as cool as it is. Moving to Oakland might be an adjustment for people who are accustomed to very warm or hot weather. How are the schools? According to Great Schools, the Oakland public schools are rated slightly below average. For adults, there are a number of options for both 2-year and 4-year degrees. Community Colleges: Merrit College Laney College Samuel Merritt University Institutions offering at least bachelor’s degrees: Patten University Lincoln University Mills College Holy Names University How is the food? San Francisco is known for having high-quality cuisine — Oakland probably less so, but there are many very good places to eat there too. Here is a list of some of the top-rated ones: Belly Kinja Sushi CHICA Oakland Shakewell Marica Restaurant Homeroom Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack Blind Tiger Mua The Gastropig Wood Tavern Moroccan Palace Restaurant Hopscotch Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken Daughter Thai Kitchen The Punchdown LocoL Chop Bar Belotti Ristorante E. Bogetta Rio California Cholita Linda Yaya Poke Mistura Rotisserie Homestead Small Wonder Agave Uptown Commis Flora Restaurant & Bar Teni East Kitchen Communite Table Royal Kitchen Indian Restaurant The Wolf Osmanthus A Cote Restaurant Ding Japanese Restaurant Burma Superstar Grand Lake Kitchen Wing Man Tin & Pig RnR Sushi & Bowls Camber Uptown Shandong Restaurant Southie Dopo Clove and Hoof Geta Noodle Theory Provisions Grand Tavern Michel Bistro Taqueria Sinaoloa Grocery stores: Oakland has many grocery stores and some that are intended to be socially aware: Sprouts Farmer Joe’s Grocery Outlet Bargain Market People’s Grocery Lucky Safeway Piedmont Grocery Whole Foods Nature’s Best Foods Rocky’s Market The Food Mill Monte Vista Food Center Trader Joe’s Mi Pueblo Food Center Temescal Produce Market Mandela Foods Cooperative Village Market House of Produce Smart and Final Specialty Foods Inc. Lakeshore Produce Hometown Grocery Grand Perkins Market Swan’s Market Is there entertainment? Oakland is well known for its sports teams like the Raiders, Warriors and A’s, but two of the three will no longer be located there. High school sports are very big though, and many local athletes go on to top colleges and universities — some make it to the professional ranks too. Live music is a significant part of Oakland’s culture, such as jazz. Yoshi’s has been hosting musicians for decades and is a local favorite. Here are some of the most popular live music venues in Oakland: Yoshi’s The Sound Room Cafe Van Kleef Fox Theater The New Parish The Night Light The Legionnaire Saloon Paramount Theater In a city the size of Oakland, you would expect to find moving screenings and you would be correct. Here are some of the theaters: Grand Lake Theatre Piedmont Theatre The New Parkway Regal Cinemas Jack London 9 Are there parks? Oakland has many parks, including Joaquin Miller, which has redwood trees. Here are some of the popular parks in Oakland: Frog Park Joaquin Miller Park Dimond Park Avenue Terrace Playground Lincoln Square Recreation Center Children’s Fairyland Cleveland Cascade Lake Merritt Montclair Recreation Center Astro Park Lake Temescal Redwood Regional Park West Oakland Farm Park Lakeside Mosswood Marin Luther King Regional Shoreline Anthony Chabot Regional Park If you have a dog, some Oakland parks allow them to roam within, such as: Leona Canyon Bridgeview Trail Robert Sibley South Prescott Dog Park Is there access to nature? As mentioned above, there are a number of parks, and Joaquin Miller, in particular, is large and dense with trees and other plants, so it almost seems like being in the Sierra. There are wilderness areas not far away, like Las Trampas, Wildcat Canyon, Mt. Diablo, and Briones. To reach Muir Woods in Marin, you drive about 30 miles. Point Reyes is about 46 miles from Oakland and it is one of the more popular outdoor destinations, with forests and undeveloped land near the coast. Sonoma is about 48 miles and it has much open space with both mountains and green slopes during spring. Of course, there are many wineries and the area can be very picturesque. Napa is similar to Sonoma and it is slightly closer. At a distance of 25 miles is Pacifica and the coastal areas around it. The open space and beaches between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay are beautiful and relaxing, though during summer months they can become crowded. Yosemite National Park is much further away — 156 miles, but it is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Yosemite Valley is well-known for its granite peaks, cliffs, and walls, along with various waterfalls. Lassen National Forest is about 250 miles north and east if you like mountains, forests, and hydrothermal activity. Moving to Oakland might seem like a choice that would lead to an exclusively urban experience, but this is not true. What are some things to do? Oakland is a thriving community with many options for activities. Here are just some of them: Oakland Zoo Chabot Space Center Lake Merritt Oakland Museum Oakland Aviation Museum USS Potomac Lake Merrit Garden Center Oakland Ice Center Children’s Fairyland Late Nite Art Are there places or worship? Oakland has a number of different types of places for worship or spiritual connection: Light of Buddha Temple Buddhist Church of Oakland East Bay Meditation Center The Cathedral of the Christ the Light Oak Life Church New Life Community Church Convergence Regeneration Skyline Community United Church of Christ First Covenant Church Oakland Christ Church Oakland Temple Sinai Beth Jacob Congregation Temple Beth Abraham First Hebrew Congregation Temple Sinai What is near Oakland? Berkeley — 5 miles San Francisco — 11.7 miles San Jose — 40 miles Marin — 41 miles Napa — 47 miles Sacramento — 81 miles Having read through all this information, are you still interested in moving to Oakland? Image Credit: Basil D Soufi, CC BY-SA 3.0