What are the schools like in Oakland, IA?

Oakland is served primarily by Riverside Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Oakland?

The median household income in Oakland, IA is $71,635 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Oakland, IA?

Oakland has an average high temperature of 30.1°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.0 inches.

Oakland, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Oakland, IA affordable or expensive?

Oakland's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oakland is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $135,900 and the median rent is $740 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Oakland, IA?

Oakland has a violent crime rate of 395.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2012.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oakland, IA a Good Place to Live?

Oakland is a small town of 1,678 in Iowa, with a median household income of $71,635 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Oakland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Oakland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Oakland city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.5

Oakland's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oakland costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Oakland, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$135,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$740	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,635	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Oakland's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

395.9 /100k

Property Crime

2012.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Oakland is served primarily by Riverside Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oakland, IA	National Avg
School District	Riverside Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oakland sees average highs of 30.1°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oakland, IA
Average High — January	30.1°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	28.0"

Demographics

Metric	Oakland, IA	National Avg
Population	1,678	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	79.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.9%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Carson, IA 5 mi Hancock, IA 6 mi Macedonia, IA 8 mi Henderson, IA 12 mi Treynor, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Oakland

Oakland, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51560

Oakland vs Other Cities

Oakland, IA vs Carson, IA Oakland, IA vs Hancock, IA Oakland, IA vs Macedonia, IA Oakland, IA vs Henderson, IA Oakland, IA vs Treynor, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oakland, IA affordable or expensive?

Oakland's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Oakland roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $135,900 and median rent is $740/month.

What is the crime rate in Oakland, IA?

Oakland's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2012.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oakland?

Public schools in Oakland are operated by Riverside Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oakland, IA a good place to live?

Oakland, IA has a population of 1,678, a median household income of $71,635, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Oakland?

Oakland averages 30.1°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 28.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oakland?

Oakland, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51560.

What is the population of Oakland?

The population of Oakland, Iowa is 1,678 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oakland?

Key numbers for living in Oakland: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $135,900, median household income $71,635, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oakland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.