The Town FilesOakland, Maryland
Town in Garrett County · population 1,851 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,400
- Household income
- $53,289
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 105 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 51.1
Oakland is a town of 1,851 people in Garrett County, Maryland. The median home is worth $244,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks quieter than 96% of Maryland towns, better for cycling than 96% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 89% of Maryland towns.
How Oakland ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oakland is worth $244,400, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $53,289, which is more affordable than 22% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $670 a month. 47.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,400 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $670 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $53,289 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.5% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Oakland
| People | Oakland | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.4% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 94.3% |
Weather in Oakland
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 104.9 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 3, 1980 about 3.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 3, 1980.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Garrett County since 1996
Garrett County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Garrett County
Garrett County had 12,162 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,523 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Oakland itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Oakland
6 public schools with 2,040 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Garrett High School | 7-12 | 578 | 11.8 |
| Broad Ford Elementary | PK-5 | 547 | 12.2 |
| Southern Middle School | 6-8 | 448 | 12.4 |
| Yough Glades Elementary | PK-5 | 275 | 11.0 |
| Crellin Elementary | K-5 | 144 | 16.0 |
| Swan Meadow School | K-8 | 48 | 24.0 |
Towns near Oakland
- Mountain Lake Park, MD1.6 mi · 2,147 people · home $216,100
- Terra Alta, WV7.8 mi · 1,415 people · home $95,200
- Kingwood, WV15.4 mi · 2,980 people · home $162,000
- Thomas, WV18.9 mi · 611 people · home $157,400
- Piedmont, WV19.4 mi · 718 people · home $46,700
- Westernport, MD19.8 mi · 1,812 people · home $86,300
- Davis, WV20.2 mi · 600 people · home $177,100
- Reedsville, WV22.2 mi · 530 people · home $182,400
Oakland questions
Is Oakland, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland scores better for retirees than 79% of Maryland towns and quieter than 96%. 28.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Oakland?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland is valued at $244,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,289, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $670 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 104.9 inches of snow.
Does Oakland get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 3, 1980. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)