The Town FilesOakland City, Indiana
City in Gibson County · population 2,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,500
- Household income
- $48,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.6
Oakland City is a city of 2,279 people in Gibson County, Indiana. The median home is worth $109,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Indiana towns, better for retirees than 92% of Indiana towns.
How Oakland City ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oakland City is worth $109,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $48,850, which is more affordable than 68% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $880 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland City | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $880 | $888 |
| Median household income | $48,850 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oakland City
| People | Oakland City | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Oakland City
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.2 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 31, 2012.
Severe weather in Gibson County since 1996
Gibson County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Gibson County
Gibson County had 21,424 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,856 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Oakland City itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Oakland City
3 public schools with 524 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo J Wood Memorial High | 9-12 | 200 | 9.1 |
| Wood Memorial Middle School | 6-8 | 168 | 14.0 |
| Wood Memorial Primary School | PK-6 | 156 | 12.0 |
Towns near Oakland City
- Francisco, IN5.4 mi · 545 people · home $98,300
- Winslow, IN8.0 mi · 764 people · home $90,900
- Lynnville, IN9.8 mi · 830 people · home $129,700
- Petersburg, IN11.2 mi · 2,304 people · home $122,000
- Princeton, IN12.5 mi · 8,301 people · home $128,700
- Elberfeld, IN13.4 mi · 644 people · home $169,700
- Fort Branch, IN13.8 mi · 2,965 people · home $195,900
- Patoka, IN13.9 mi · 706 people · home $99,000
Oakland City questions
Is Oakland City, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland City scores better for retirees than 92% of Indiana towns and quieter than 39%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Oakland City?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland City is valued at $109,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,850, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $880 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland City?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.2 inches of snow.
Does Oakland City get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)