Oakland Facts

Key Facts: Oakland

Oakland is the eighth largest city in California, with a population of nearly 400,000. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000

Oakland is projected to have the highest average household income growth rate (3.67%) in the U.S. for the period 2004-2009. Source: NPA Data Services, Inc., “Viewpoint 2005 Real Estate Value Trends,” published by Integra Realty Resources as a supplement to Western Business Real Estate News, 2/2005.

MONEY ranked Oakland the 6th best city to live in the U.S. Source: Money, December 2002.

FORBES ranked Oakland the 5th (1999), 12th (2000), 10th (2001), 8th (2002) best place to do business in the U.S. Source: Forbes (Annual Survey of Best Places to Do Business).

Oakland is ranked among the top three “up-and-coming” cities (metro area) in the U.S. Source: Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida, 2002.

Oakland is ranked the top commercial real estate market in the nation, projected to have the largest increase in rents of all U.S. cities through 2007. Source: Cushman & Wakefield, 2006

Oakland is ranked 4th best potential retail market in the nation. Source: Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co., published in California Real Estate Journal, June 6, 2005

Oakland and Long Beach are the two most ethnically diverse cities in the United States. More than 125 different languages and dialects are spoken in Oakland. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000

Oakland residents rank eighth in the U.S. in overall educational achievement. More than one-third of Oakland’s residents have a college degree – twice the national average. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000

Oakland residents rank 14th in the U.S. in the attainment of advanced degrees – making Oakland the 14th smartest city in America. Source: U.S. Census 2002 Survey

Oakland ranks 8th in the nation in the percentage of women-owned businesses. Women-owned businesses increasingly are driving the economic health of the top 50 metropolitan areas through job creation and generating revenue. Source: Center for Women’s Business Research, September 2004, based on U.S. Census Bureau data

The Oakland metro market ranked the 4th best commercial real estate market in the country. Source: Moody’s Investors Service, July 2003

Newsweek ranked Oakland among the top ten technology cities of the future. Source: Newsweek, May 2001

Oakland metro area ranked 2nd in technology intensity and 4th highest percentage of U.S. households with computer users. Oakland leads the nation in the proportion of its personal computers that use high-speed Internet connections. Source: MetaFacts, April 2003

Oakland - San Francisco rank #2 as the “Most Wired” metro area in the nation. Source: FPS Newswire, June 7, 2005

Oakland - San Francisco is ranked among the top 12 areas for biotech in the nation. Source: Milken Institute, July 2004

Oakland is the top-ranked logistics city on the West Coast. Source: Expansion Magazine, December 2004

The Port of Oakland is the fourth largest container port in the U.S., and among the top 25 in the world.

The Port of Oakland scored highest overall in the nation in a study evaluating air quality, water quality, land use, and community relations. Source: Natural Resources Defense Council/Coalition for Clean Air, 3/2004

The San Francisco/Oakland region is ranked #2 among America’s top sports cities. Source: SportsBusiness Journal, American City Business Journals, March 2004

Oakland is the only city in California with the “big three” professional sports teams: football - Oakland Raiders; baseball - Oakland Athletics; basketball - Golden State Warriors.

“The Wave” originated at the Oakland Coliseum during an Oakland A’s game on October 15, 1981.

Oakland is ranked the 6th healthiest city in the U.S. California dominated the survey with five of the top ten healthiest cities. Source: 2005 Centrum Healthiest Cities Study, the first-ever comprehensive “health report card” of U.S. cities to be based on the key factors – health status, nutrition, exercise and mental health that contribute to overall well-being.

Oakland is ranked the 12th healthiest city for women in the U.S. Source: Self Magazine National Rankings of Healthiest Communities for Women, 2004

Oakland is rated the 13th best city in America to have a baby, one of five California cities to make the top 15. 47 criteria were examined including fertility services, maternal and infant health risk, access to hospitals and doctors, safety, affordability, stroller friendliness and birthing options. Source: 1st Annual “Best Cities in America to Have a Baby,” Fit Pregnancy, Jan. 25, 2006.

Oakland is ranked #1 in climate in the U.S., based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration local climatological data. Oakland has statistically the same number of sunny days as Orange County, California. Source: Rand McNally, 1993 and Places Rated Almanac, 1997

Oakland is among the America’s top five best places to retire. Source: Source: Money 2004 Best Places to Retire

Oakland is the 8th most fun city in the U.S. Source: Cranium, November 2003

Oakland’s pet dogs are the second-healthiest in the nation, according to a national survey of 5,000 veterinarians conducted by the Purina Pet Institute. Source: East Bay Business Times, 2003

In May 2007, Oakland was named the nation’s fourth leading nanotechnology center by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

In May 2007, David Baker + Partners received a Grand Award Gold Nugget Award from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference for 200 Second Street as the best multi-family project over four stories tall in the western U.S.

Compiled by Samee Roberts, Marketing Manager, City of Oakland Updated 11/2006