The Town FilesOakland, Wisconsin
Town in Douglas County · population 1,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $286,000
- Household income
- $88,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 53.3
Oakland is a town of 1,170 people in Douglas County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $286,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 87% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Oakland ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oakland is worth $286,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $88,828, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,020 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,020 | $951 |
| Median household income | $88,828 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.7% | — |
Who lives in Oakland
| People | Oakland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Oakland
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 1.4°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 3, 1980 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 3, 1980.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 14, 2000.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 2, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4076: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 16,039 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,809 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Oakland itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Towns near Oakland
- Hawthorne, WI7.6 mi · 1,058 people · home $232,900
- Amnicon, WI8.2 mi · 1,224 people · home $196,700
- Bennett, WI8.8 mi · 632 people · home $250,000
- Parkland, WI9.0 mi · 1,231 people · home $209,100
- Summit, WI10.0 mi · 1,030 people · home $201,300
- Superior, WI10.2 mi · 2,264 people · home $298,500
- Poplar, WI11.5 mi · 629 people · home $255,600
- Solon Springs, WI11.9 mi · 970 people · home $268,100
Oakland questions
Is Oakland, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland scores better for retirees than 64% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 87%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Oakland?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland is valued at $286,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,828, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,020 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 1.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 57.5 inches of snow.
Does Oakland get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 3, 1980. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)