The Town FilesOak Park, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 29,560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,300
- Household income
- $71,510
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 38.1
Oak Park is a city of 29,560 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $212,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Oak Park ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oak Park is worth $212,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $71,510, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,396 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oak Park | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,396 | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,510 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oak Park
| People | Oak Park | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Oak Park
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 34.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Park since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 161 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Oak Park itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Oak Park
11 public schools with 4,392 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park High School | 9-12 | 873 | 19.8 |
| Norup International School | K-8 | 688 | 16.4 |
| Oak Park Preparatory Academy | 6-8 | 679 | 19.4 |
| Ferndale Upper Elementary Campus | K-6 | 533 | 17.8 |
| Key Elementary School | PK-5 | 507 | 18.8 |
| Pepper Elementary School | PK-5 | 401 | 18.2 |
| Einstein Elementary School | PK-5 | 393 | 16.4 |
| Oak Park Service Learning Academy OPSLA (charter) | PK-8 | 176 | 25.1 |
| NOVA Discipline Academy | 2-12 | 90 | 12.9 |
| Lessenger Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 52 | 4.7 |
| CASA | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Oak Park
- Huntington Woods, MI1.4 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
- Pleasant Ridge, MI2.0 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Berkley, MI2.3 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Ferndale, MI2.6 mi · 19,190 people · home $247,700
- Lathrup Village, MI3.0 mi · 4,088 people · home $310,600
- Royal Oak, MI3.3 mi · 58,211 people · home $328,700
- Southfield, MI4.0 mi · 76,618 people · home $236,200
- Hazel Park, MI4.3 mi · 14,983 people · home $158,600
Oak Park questions
Is Oak Park, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oak Park scores better for retirees than 14% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Oak Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Oak Park is valued at $212,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,510, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,396 a month.
What is the weather like in Oak Park?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Oak Park get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)