Population 5,522 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Oakland
Household size in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.63 | 2.66 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.69 | 2.72 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.59 | 2.73 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.55 | 2.62 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Downtown Oakland is a place of small households, averaging 1.55 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 1.63 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Oakland neighborhood has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 36.3 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 36.6 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.7 | 37.5 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 38.7 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −5.6 | +2.4 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Downtown Oakland is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 44.0, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 15.6% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 15.6% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 12.8% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 12.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.3% of households in Downtown Oakland, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Oakland's 61 neighborhoods, only five have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Oakland
Renters in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 57.8% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 60.3% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 59.5% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 94.3% | 57.9% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +0.2 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown Oakland rent: 94.3% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. The renter share has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Downtown Oakland has the highest share of renters of any Oakland neighborhood.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 12.2% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 7.3% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 8.1% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | −4.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.9% of the housing in Downtown Oakland, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1951 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1953 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1954 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2005 | 1958 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +51 | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Downtown Oakland has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2005, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west. Only one other Oakland neighborhood has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $626 | $1,120 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $777 | $1,201 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,020 | $1,591 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,429 | $2,124 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,803 | +$1,004 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Downtown Oakland runs $2,429 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,803 a month since 2006–10, up 288%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Oakland
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 32.4% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 35.0% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.9% | 41.1% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.4% | 45.9% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +33.8 pts | +13.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown Oakland is highly educated: nearly two-thirds of adults 25 and older (64.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 33.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.6% | 75.9% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.8% | 78.2% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.0% | 80.6% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.7% | 82.9% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +18.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Downtown Oakland is close to the national rate: 90.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in Oakland overall (82.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 18.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Oakland
| Period | Downtown Oakland | Oakland | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 10.9% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 12.6% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 6.4% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 6.5% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −4.4 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Downtown Oakland: 7.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Oakland compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Oakland | 1.55 | 38.4 | 4.3% | 94.3% | 19.9% | 2005 | $2,429 | 64.4% | 90.7% | 7.4% |
| Lakewide | 1.36 | 41.6 | 3.5% | 93.2% | 10.5% | 1960 | $1,858 | 60.4% | 90.0% | 5.3% |
| San Pablo Gateway | 1.82 | 42.1 | 11.9% | 84.9% | 10.1% | 1972 | $1,967 | 44.1% | 81.2% | 8.6% |
| Adams Point | 1.65 | 39.1 | 7.0% | 84.1% | 11.8% | 1963 | $2,167 | 69.6% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Old City-Produce and Waterfront | 1.69 | 37.2 | 7.5% | 66.0% | 14.1% | 1996 | $2,736 | 68.4% | 93.8% | 6.2% |
| Pill Hill | 1.64 | 34.2 | 8.9% | 91.9% | 14.7% | 2009 | $2,918 | 60.1% | 96.7% | 6.8% |
| Oakland Ave-Harrison Street | 1.84 | 39.9 | 8.6% | 80.1% | 15.9% | 1957 | $1,867 | 64.3% | 94.4% | 5.9% |
| Hoover-Foster | 2.29 | 33.1 | 7.1% | 75.6% | 12.6% | 1939 | $1,818 | 41.9% | 83.2% | 9.6% |
| McClymonds | 2.66 | 33.8 | 18.4% | 63.5% | 10.1% | 1964 | $2,487 | 50.7% | 91.3% | 11.5% |
| Merritt | 2.11 | 42.2 | 8.2% | 91.4% | 9.5% | 1966 | $1,854 | 45.1% | 79.6% | 6.1% |
| Acorn | 2.49 | 34.8 | 23.0% | 86.6% | 8.7% | 1968 | $1,085 | 27.7% | 83.1% | 12.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Downtown Fremont, Fremont, CA · Townelake, Sayreville, NJ · Channelside, Tampa, FL · Chevy Chase, Glendale, CA · Chickasaw, Louisville, KY · Clemente Ranch, Chandler, AZ · Clifton Heights, Louisville, KY · Columbia, Redding, CA · Cornerstone Village, Santa Ana, CA · Coronado Hills, Austin, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Oakland. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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