| Oakland, California can be described as an | | | | Dwellings built between 1990 and 2005 accounted |
| ethnically diverse community with high crime and | | | | for just eight percent of all housing. Median home |
| clean air. Here are some things to consider if you | | | | values have soared since the advent of the |
| are heading to Oakland. | | | | California housing shortage. The average home in |
| Oakland is linked to the city of San Francisco by | | | | Oakland valued at $235,500 in 2000. Census |
| the Bay Bridge. Located in west central California, | | | | figures in 2005 put that number at $487,300. The |
| Oakland serves as the county of seat of | | | | median monthly housing costs for mortgaged |
| Alameda County. It is the eighth-largest city in the | | | | owners was $1,999, non-mortgaged owners paid |
| state with over 395,000 residents, according to | | | | $396, and renters $889. Of the total housing |
| U.S. Census estimates in 2005. A densely | | | | units, just over half were in apartments and |
| populated area with 7,126 people per square mile, | | | | duplexes. With public transportation in the top 1% |
| the citizenry has decreased since 2000. The | | | | of the state, 62% of city workers drove to |
| population has been at a near standstill since the | | | | work alone in 2005. The average commute time |
| 1990 census. Oakland is part of the fifth most | | | | to work is 26.9 minutes. |
| populated metro area in the U.S. with over seven | | | | There is an upside and downside to the quality of |
| million people. The average age of city residents is | | | | life for someone heading to Oakland. Oakland is |
| 35 years. Of the population, 33% were | | | | the eighth most dangerous city in the country, |
| African-American or African American; 25% | | | | according to Morgan Quitno crime rankings in |
| Hispanic; 24% White non-Hispanic, and 17% Asian. | | | | 2006. The number of murders in the city went |
| Oakland has a growing Hispanic community and a | | | | from 94 in 2005 to 148 a year later, an increase |
| African-American population in decline. A high | | | | of 57%. The area of the city known as 'the |
| percentage (28%) of people living in Oakland are | | | | flatlands' has seen a majority of violent crime. On |
| foreign born. Among its residents, 40% speak a | | | | the upside, residents enjoy an average of 91.8% |
| language other than English at home. Oakland's | | | | days of good air yearly. Some of the more |
| school district has suffered financial and | | | | favorable locations in the nation have clean air |
| administrative failures since the state stepped in | | | | about 75% of the year. The city's climate is |
| back in 2002. As recently as 2005, only 20 | | | | likened to that of arid Mediterranean, warmer |
| percent of students were deemed "proficient" in | | | | than San Francisco but cooler than San Jose. The |
| English. However, among residents 25 and older, | | | | city is cooled by maritime fog in the summer, |
| 34 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher. | | | | while remaining typically sunny. January |
| Heading to Oakland to find work and you'll | | | | temperatures range on average from 43 to 58 |
| discover job growth has been nearly zero. | | | | degrees and from 54 to 75 in July. About 23.5 |
| Between 2000-2005, the U.S. Labor Department | | | | inches of precipitation falls each year. |
| found a 0.96% increase in employment. Oakland | | | | Oakland is served by the Oakland International |
| had attracted a large blue-collar work force | | | | Airport, one of three international airports in the |
| beginning with the shipbuilding era of World War I. | | | | Bay Area. Amtrak provides the city with regional |
| As one of the three major shipping ports on the | | | | and long distance passenger train service. The city |
| west coast, Oakland is the fourth busiest | | | | had some reconstruction to do after the 1989 |
| container port in the nation today. The city is | | | | earthquake that collapsed a double-decker portion |
| home to Fortune 500 companies Clorox and | | | | of highway, killing 42 people. Significant |
| Golden West Financial. The yearly median income | | | | improvements are still being made to the Bay |
| of households in 2005 was $44,124. White | | | | Bridge. Oakland supports three major league |
| non-Hispanic householders typically out earn all | | | | teams: baseball's Oakland A's, the NFL Oakland |
| other races -- $57,399 annually in 2000 compared | | | | Raiders and the NBA Golden State Warriors. |
| with just $31,184 for African-American | | | | Oakland is the birthplace of rapper MC Hammer |
| householders. Poverty levels have historically been | | | | and actor Mark Hamill, and has produced music |
| above the national average in Oakland. The | | | | acts like Sly & the Family Stone, Green Day, En |
| percentages of minorities living in poverty are | | | | Vogue and Tupac Shakur. Most notable for higher |
| more than double that of White non-Hispanic | | | | education in the area is the University of |
| citizens. | | | | California-Berkeley with a full-time enrollment of |
| Despite the aging appearance of Oakland's | | | | nearly 30,000 students. |
| housing, property values continue to surge. | | | | |