Oak Ridge is a small town of 7,637 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $146,131
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Oak Ridge stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Oak Ridge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Oak Ridge 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: 92.7
Oak Ridge's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Oak Ridge costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Oak Ridge, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$484,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
93.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$146,131
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Oak Ridge's violent crime rate is 675.4 per 100,000 residents
— 78% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
675.4 /100k
Property Crime
2665.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Oak Ridge is served primarily by Guilford County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Oak Ridge, NC
National Avg
School District
Guilford County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
66
—
Middle Schools
20
—
High Schools
30
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
47.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Oak Ridge sees average highs of 49.3°F in January
and 88.5°F in July,
with 44.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.1 inches of snow per year.
Oak Ridge's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Oak Ridge roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $484,300 and median rent is N/A/month.
Oak Ridge's violent crime rate is 675.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2665.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Oak Ridge are operated by Guilford County Schools.
The district has 66 elementary, 20 middle, and 30 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 47.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Oak Ridge, NC has a population of 7,637, a median household income of $146,131, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
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.
Oak Ridge averages 49.3°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.0 inches
with about 7.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Oak Ridge, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27310.
The population of Oak Ridge, North Carolina is 7,637 with a median age of 46.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Oak Ridge: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $484,300, median household income $146,131, crime index 157 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oak Ridge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
