City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Oakland, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Oakland - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,500
Residents
$72,500
Median income
$144,600
Median home
$1,368
Median rent (state)

Oakland - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Oakland places in the 53rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

53rd
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
53rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Oakland, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,500 residents in Oakland, a small town within Iowa. The typical household in Oakland brings in $72,500 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.2%. Typical homes in Oakland are valued around $144,600, and the median resident age is 36.4 years. 20.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.4°F with 36.4 inches of precipitation per year and 28.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,368 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Oakland report an average commute of 23.0 minutes, with 75.1% driving alone and 5.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 80.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

1,500 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$72,500 /yr

Poverty 11.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Oakland compare to other US cities?

Oakland measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Oakland's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

53rdIncome percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Oakland's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$144,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Oakland $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Oakland, IA Oakland, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oakland, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Oakland, IA median $72,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Oakland, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Oakland, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,500
Median Income
$72,500
Median Home Value
$144,600
Median Age
36.4
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Labor force participation
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.4°F
Annual Precipitation
36.4"
Annual Snowfall
28.0"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,480 residents1,490 residents1,500 residents1,510 residents1,520 residents1,530 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,521 residents 1,489 residents ▼ -2.1%
Oakland's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 2
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.0 minutes
Drive Alone
75.1%
Carpool
16.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
5.1%

Based on 732 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Oakland sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,368/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Slater
1,498 people
Fairbank
1,509 people
Sanborn
1,510 people
Panora
1,520 people
Lenox
1,474 people
Manning
1,474 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oakland's 1,500 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Monument Hills, CA
1,500 people
Antón Ruíz comunidad, PR
1,500 people
Rose Hill, NC
1,501 people
Saxapahaw, NC
1,501 people
Cresson, PA
1,499 people
West Conshohocken, PA
1,499 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oakland's $72,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bulpitt, IL
$72,500 median income
Columbus, IL
$72,500 median income
Grant Park, IL
$72,500 median income
Hartsburg, IL
$72,500 median income
Mansfield, IL
$72,500 median income
Maroa, IL
$72,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oakland, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Oakland, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.1% 13.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.5% White 82.1% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 3.8% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 13.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Oakland compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Oakland (this city) 1,500 $72,500
Slater 1,498 $87,708
Fairbank 1,509 $100,172
Sanborn 1,510 $56,477
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oakland, IA?

What is the population of Oakland, IA? +

The population of Oakland, IA stands at 1,500 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oakland, IA? +

Median annual household income in Oakland runs $72,500, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oakland? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Oakland; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Oakland, IA? +

The median home value in Oakland is $144,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Oakland? +

The average annual temperature in Oakland runs 49.4°F, 36.4 inches of precipitation, and 28.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.