Population 1,279,825 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Oakland County
Household size in Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Oakland County has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.54, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southeast.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.9 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Oakland County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.5, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.1 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the center.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Oakland County: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Oakland County
Renters in Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Oakland County own their homes; 27.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 36.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 1.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Oakland County than nationally: 6.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Oakland County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Oakland County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Detroit area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1970. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,121 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,143 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,346 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,616 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Oakland County costs $1,616 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Detroit area as a whole ($1,373). Rents are up $496 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Oakland County has the highest rents of any Michigan county.
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 Oakland County
Bachelor's degrees in Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.7% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.4% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.3% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Oakland County: 51.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 9.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Michigan's 83 counties, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.3% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.0% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Oakland County: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points, as it has nationally. Oakland County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Michigan counties.
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 Oakland County
| Period | Oakland County | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Oakland County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Detroit area overall (6.7%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.3 points, mirroring the country.
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).
Oakland County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 2.50 | 42.5 | 8.1% | 27.3% | 6.7% | 1976 | $1,616 | 51.3% | 95.1% | 4.8% |
| Macomb County | 2.53 | 41.8 | 10.3% | 25.0% | 5.1% | 1977 | $1,335 | 27.5% | 90.6% | 5.8% |
| Livingston County | 2.61 | 44.0 | 6.5% | 13.1% | 5.6% | 1989 | $1,365 | 39.9% | 96.3% | 3.4% |
| Ingham County | 2.34 | 36.4 | 10.1% | 40.5% | 8.2% | 1972 | $1,146 | 43.5% | 93.9% | 6.3% |
| Eaton County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 8.5% | 25.8% | 5.4% | 1976 | $1,100 | 30.3% | 93.9% | 4.4% |
| Barry County | 2.64 | 43.3 | 7.4% | 12.7% | 11.2% | 1976 | $1,007 | 24.6% | 93.2% | 4.0% |
| Allegan County | 2.69 | 41.5 | 9.7% | 12.6% | 12.1% | 1980 | $1,163 | 27.0% | 92.5% | 2.9% |
| Kenosha County | 2.46 | 40.4 | 12.3% | 33.3% | 8.0% | 1976 | $1,290 | 31.4% | 91.9% | 4.5% |
| Walworth County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 9.0% | 29.4% | 16.6% | 1977 | $1,218 | 32.5% | 92.8% | 2.9% |
| Rock County | 2.45 | 40.7 | 11.6% | 28.8% | 6.3% | 1970 | $1,094 | 25.9% | 92.4% | 3.8% |
| Yates County | 2.48 | 43.1 | 7.9% | 22.8% | 23.5% | 1965 | $892 | 25.7% | 83.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: San Bernardino County, CA · Clark County, NV · Palm Beach County, FL · El Paso County, TX · Pima County, AZ · Mecklenburg County, NC · Honolulu County, HI · Santa Clara County, CA · Duval County, FL · Orange County, FL
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 Oakland County. 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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