Fountains - panoramio (2), 2015
Oakwood’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 110 in 1910, 4,822 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
- 1873Oakwood is founded
OakwoodGA
Trash & recyclingPopulation
7,245
2025 Census estimate · +50.5% since 2020
Typical home
$316K
−2.2% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
31.8
years
Jobs based here
7,913
A job hub
TownGrade
C
#133 of 258 in GA
Is Oakwood a good place to live?
Oakwood grades C overall, ranked 133rd of 258 in Georgia, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Natural-hazard risk is low. On the other side, the typical home is worth about $316K, 3.9 years of the Gainesville metro’s $81K median household income. Oakwood's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 97% of U.S. towns. Only 20 of Georgia’s 374 towns score lower on the outdoors. 44% of households own their home in Oakwood, below both the Georgia town median (58%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%).
What makes Oakwood stand out
Where Oakwood beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here7,913
Residents who work2,439
Work
3.2 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Natural hazardsA−
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
0historic places
History
Founded in 1873
A long history
A history going back 153 years.
A growing town
Oakwood has grown 83% since 2010
3,970 counted in 2010 and 4,822 in 2020; an estimated 7,245 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 50.5% since 2020, after 21.5% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Oakwood grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Oakwood is from typical.
Cost of livingC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeB+Open →HealthNortheast Georgia Medical Center 6.7 miles awayC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.1 of 20; 11.9% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 88° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market132 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 31.8; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oakwood: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oakwood, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGainesville water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown pickupTown crews pick up at the curbTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHall County Board of Elections and Voter RegistrationHall County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes30566, 30542, 30504, 3050730566 74% · 30542 19% · 30504 4% · 30507 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Oakwood.
Oakwood draws workers from Gainesville and beyond, is mostly renters and has more 90° days than most of the country, though not than most of Georgia.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most working residents commute out of Oakwood
7,913 jobs are based in Oakwood, 3.2 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here grew from 4,140 in 2013 to 7,913.
Most working residents leave Oakwood for work: only 7% work in town. Jobs based in Oakwood grew to 7,913 in 2023, 3,773 more than in 2013. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line in Oakwood.
7%work in town
| Oakwood | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 15% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Oakwood7%
Gainesville20%
Buford4%
Atlanta3%
Flowery Branch3%
13 mi
median commute distance
7,913
jobs based in Oakwood
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
Oakwood’s public schools trail 53% of Georgia districts
Its public schools are run by the Hall County school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
47%of GA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakwood Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 509 | B |
| Maranatha Christian PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 90 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Oakwood
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 86% of U.S. communities.
14risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Oakwood, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
The Gainesville weather station, 6 miles away, records that about 33 days a year reach 90°: more than most of the country, but fewer than 92% of Georgia places with climate records. January nights average 32.4°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 80% of Georgia places with climate records; July afternoons average 87.5°.
Oakwood has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Only 8 of the 264 Georgia towns we compare have a lower July high than Oakwood. The January low in Oakwood is 32°F.
2″snow a winter
| Oakwood | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 32°F | 33°F | 22°F |
| July high | 88°F | 90°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–54°
Spring48–71°
Summer66–86°
Fall51–72°
Nov 14
typical first frost
Mar 20
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Oakwood
Oakwood's reported crime rate is close to Georgia's. Oakwood’s property crime rate is 19.5 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Oakwood | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 19.5 per 1,000 residents | 18.3 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 1.7 per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Oakwood1.7
Georgia3.3
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Oakwood19.5
Georgia17.1
U.S.17.7
12
violent crimes reported in 2024
137
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HealthC+
Oakwood is less healthy than 57% of U.S. towns
Oakwood beats the Georgia average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 19% of Oakwood adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance.
43%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Oakwood | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 8.1% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 79% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 40% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
4 better23 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Oakwood | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.1% | 7% |
| More uninsured adults | 19% | 13.1% |
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
6.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
60th
percentile among GA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Oakwood’s grade for cost of living is a C−
64.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 52.4% across Georgia.
The typical Oakwood home is worth about $316,000, down 2.2% in a year, close to the Georgia typical home.
$316KZillow home value
Typical home value
Oakwood$316K
Georgia$329K
Market temperature
132
days on market
98.6%
sale-to-list price
−2.2%
value change, 1 year
9
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 86 attractions →Lake Lanier and 31 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Oakwood. Close and well known come first.
Big draw4 mi LakeLake Lanier
Big draw32 mi MountainStone Mountain
32 mi MuseumChattahoochee Nature Center
35 mi Stadium & arenaSanford Stadium
36 mi MountainCurrahee Mountain
20 mi Stadium & arenaGas South ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Lanier: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Stone Mountain: KyleAndMelissa22, Public domain · Chattahoochee Nature Center: muffinn from Worcester, UK, CC BY 2.0 · Sanford Stadium: The original uploader was Clio64 at French Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Currahee Mountain: Wikilackey (talk), Public domain · Gas South Arena: fr:File:ArenaatGwinnettCenterSat.png : fr:User:Betp (26 janvier 2008 à 20:19), Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oakwood
18pages on Oakwood
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 53% of GA districts · 3 schoolsSafety1.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthC+Better than GA on 4 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$316K typical home · down 2.2% in a yearWork & commuteB+$68K median household income · 7,913 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Oakwood
Brenau UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Gainesville6.7 mi$34,027 tuitionLanier Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Gainesville9.6 mi$3,980 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Oakwood residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
A job hub
Every workday, about 7,731 people come to Oakwood for work
Where Oakwood’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
7,913jobs based in Oakwood
7%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Oakwood
City in Georgia, United States
Oakwood is a city in Hall County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Gainesville, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,822 at the 2020 census, up from 3,970 in 2010. Oakwood is home to the University of North Georgia Gainesville Campus and Wayne Farms.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1896
- Area
- 5.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,158 ft
- ZIP code
- 30566
- Area code
- 770
Oakwood’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Oakwood.
GainesvilleFlowery BranchOakwood
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakwood | #133 | C | C− | — | B− | C+ |
| Gainesville | #210 | D | D | C− | C | C |
| Flowery Branch | #64 | B | D | B | B− | A− |
Oakwood reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Oakwood with a neighbor →
Questions about Oakwood
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oakwood, GA a good place to live?
Oakwood grades C overall, better than 27% of U.S. towns and #133 of 258 in Georgia. It grades C+ for health and B− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Oakwood, GA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.