The Town FilesOakland, Nebraska
City in Burt County · population 1,369 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,700
- Household income
- $68,900
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 45.6
Oakland is a city of 1,369 people in Burt County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $151,700, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 90% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 83% of Nebraska towns.
How Oakland ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oakland is worth $151,700, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $68,900, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $720 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $720 | $818 |
| Median household income | $68,900 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oakland
| People | Oakland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Oakland
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 15, 1950 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 16, 1965.
Severe weather in Burt County since 1996
Burt County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Burt County
Burt County had 1,780 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,275 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Oakland itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Oakland
2 public schools with 405 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAKLAND CRAIG ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 226 | 11.9 |
| OAKLAND CRAIG JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH | 7-12 | 179 | 10.5 |
Towns near Oakland
- Lyons, NE7.0 mi · 824 people · home $104,300
- West Point, NE12.3 mi · 3,500 people · home $202,200
- Tekamah, NE13.1 mi · 1,714 people · home $129,900
- Scribner, NE15.6 mi · 843 people · home $114,400
- Hooper, NE16.0 mi · 857 people · home $173,200
- Beemer, NE18.8 mi · 611 people · home $129,300
- Macy, NE20.1 mi · 1,045 people · home $54,400
- Walthill, NE21.7 mi · 682 people · home $39,400
Oakland questions
Is Oakland, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland scores better for retirees than 83% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 22%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Oakland?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland is valued at $151,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,900, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $720 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.8 inches of snow.
Does Oakland get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 15, 1950. The typical Nebraska 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)