The Town FilesRoyal Oak, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 58,211 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $328,700
- Household income
- $101,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.9
Royal Oak is a city of 58,211 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $328,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns, hipper than 100% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns.
How Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak is worth $328,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $101,109, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,381 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Royal Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $328,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,381 | $955 |
| Median household income | $101,109 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Royal Oak
| People | Royal Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 27.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Royal Oak
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royal Oak 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 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 165 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 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 Royal Oak itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Royal Oak
10 public schools with 4,801 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak High School | 9-12 | 1,338 | 15.7 |
| Royal Oak Middle School | 6-8 | 1,097 | 17.1 |
| Keller Elementary | PK-5 | 450 | 14.5 |
| Northwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 446 | 16.5 |
| Addams Elementary and ECC | PK-5 | 443 | 11.1 |
| Oak Ridge Elementary School | K-5 | 408 | 17.7 |
| Alfred E Upton Elementary School | K-5 | 295 | 15.5 |
| Oakland Elementary School | K-5 | 231 | 12.8 |
| Churchill Community Ed Center | 9-12 | 93 | 13.3 |
| Oakland Schools Technical CampusSE | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Royal Oak
- Berkley, MI1.7 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Huntington Woods, MI1.9 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
- Clawson, MI2.0 mi · 11,389 people · home $267,100
- Pleasant Ridge, MI2.6 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Madison Heights, MI2.6 mi · 28,468 people · home $199,100
- Oak Park, MI3.3 mi · 29,560 people · home $212,300
- Ferndale, MI3.5 mi · 19,190 people · home $247,700
- Lathrup Village, MI3.9 mi · 4,088 people · home $310,600
Royal Oak questions
Is Royal Oak, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Royal Oak scores better for retirees than 62% of Michigan towns and quieter than 7%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Royal Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Royal Oak is valued at $328,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,109, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,381 a month.
What is the weather like in Royal Oak?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Royal Oak get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royal Oak 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)