Population 2,747 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Oakland
Household size in West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.75 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.29 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.30 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in West Oakland has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in the Pittsburgh area overall, where it has 2.30 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.75, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Few Pittsburgh neighborhoods have larger households: only three of 43.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2 | 42.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 23.6 | 43.0 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 24.7 | 43.7 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 22.7 | 43.9 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.5 | +1.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 22.7, West Oakland is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Only one other Pittsburgh neighborhood is younger.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 8.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 8.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.0 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in West Oakland (17.0%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Pittsburgh neighborhoods, West Oakland has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 West Oakland
Renters in West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.0% | 28.5% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 73.9% | 29.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 78.0% | 30.3% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 82.4% | 29.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +17.4 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in West Oakland rent: 82.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 54.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Only one other Pittsburgh neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 10.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 10.5% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 10.0% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.8% of the housing in West 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. West Oakland has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1960 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1962 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1964 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in West Oakland is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1955, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Compared with other Pittsburgh neighborhoods, though, West Oakland has newer homes than most.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $719 | $720 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $836 | $801 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,419 | $922 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,538 | $1,162 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$819 | +$442 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Oakland costs $1,538 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Pittsburgh area overall ($1,162). The typical renter here spends 50.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 West Oakland
Bachelor's degrees in West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.5% | 29.5% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 31.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.7% | 35.2% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.2% | 39.0% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +9.5 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in West Oakland (42.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.2% | 90.8% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.8% | 92.3% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 93.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.7% | 95.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +4.2 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Oakland is above the national rate: 93.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Pittsburgh area.
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 West Oakland
| Period | West Oakland | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 6.9% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Oakland runs well above the national rate: 15.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Few Pittsburgh neighborhoods have higher unemployment: only three of 43. 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).
West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Oakland | 2.56 | 22.7 | 17.0% | 82.4% | 23.8% | 1955 | $1,538 | 42.2% | 93.7% | 15.0% |
| Oakland | 2.55 | 21.6 | 2.0% | 82.1% | 25.1% | 1956 | $1,559 | 38.9% | 77.4% | 6.4% |
| North Oakland | 1.53 | 29.1 | 4.3% | 64.5% | 21.8% | 1958 | $1,232 | 70.6% | 98.8% | 5.1% |
| Southside Flats | 1.76 | 29.6 | 7.0% | 66.9% | 12.6% | 1960 | $1,560 | 60.6% | 94.0% | 1.0% |
| Central Business District | 1.48 | 30.8 | 10.3% | 90.1% | 30.7% | 1953 | $1,601 | 70.9% | 99.8% | 3.6% |
| Bluff | 2.11 | 24.7 | 7.5% | 64.4% | 28.1% | 1943 | $1,817 | 24.0% | 72.6% | 5.4% |
| Southside Slopes | 1.90 | 35.7 | 8.3% | 51.9% | 19.1% | 1938 | $1,345 | 42.0% | 94.8% | 4.5% |
| Bloomfield | 1.78 | 33.9 | 2.0% | 65.1% | 13.2% | 1943 | $1,294 | 62.3% | 94.6% | 3.4% |
| Squirrel Hill North | 2.44 | 25.8 | 2.3% | 42.4% | 11.4% | 1949 | $1,940 | 86.8% | 99.3% | 2.6% |
| Greenfield | 1.87 | 42.0 | 2.7% | 36.3% | 11.4% | 1942 | $1,315 | 60.1% | 95.5% | 4.7% |
| Shadyside | 1.72 | 31.1 | 3.1% | 71.6% | 15.5% | 1961 | $1,533 | 83.0% | 96.9% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Rancho Dominguez, Compton, CA · Morningside, Pittsburgh, PA · Mountainville, Allentown, PA · New Scotland-Woodlawn, Albany, NY · New West, Garland, TX · Newfield, Stamford, CT · Nicholtown, Greenville, SC · North City Farms, Sacramento, CA · North Lake Waco, Waco, TX · North Park Forest, Houston, 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 West 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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