Interstate 696 pedestrian plazas, 2003
Oak Park’s story
99 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,079 in 1930, 29,560 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2003 and 8 maps from 1905 on.
- 1927Oak Park is settled
Oak ParkMI
A town of 29,072, settled in 1927.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Johnrozsa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
29,072
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Typical home
$231K
+1.8% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
38.1
years
Jobs based here
7,065
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#643 of 697 in MI
Is Oak Park a good place to live?
Oak Park earns a D, ranked 643rd of 697 in Michigan, mostly because of schools and safety. Its public schools trail 86% of Michigan towns on state tests and graduation. Its crime rate is higher than 78% of U.S. towns, with 88 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. In its favor, natural-hazard risk is low. Only 5 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score lower on history. Oak Park is home to Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit. 23% of workers work from home in Oak Park, above both the Michigan town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (11%).
What makes Oak Park stand out
Where Oak Park beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA−
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
WalkabilityB+
More walkable than 70% of U.S. towns
1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
The college
| College | Students |
|---|---|
| Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit | 71 |
A college in town
71 college students
at Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit
Students are 5% of residents.
College town
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit calls Oak Park home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Oak Park grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Oak Park is from typical.
SchoolsDOpen →SafetyC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 26% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.4 of 20; 8.8% of households have no carB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Jobs & income$72K median household incomeC+Open →HealthHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns; Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield and Novi 1.2 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trailsBOpen →History5 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2.5 library visits per resident; 3.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 66 attractions →Michigan Stadium and 53 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Oak Park. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi Stadium & arenaMichigan Stadium
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaFord Field
11 mi Stadium & arenaComerica Park
12 mi MuseumThe Henry Ford1.8M visitors a year
11 mi TheatreFox Theatre
9 mi MuseumDetroit Institute of ArtsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Michigan Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ford Field: Unknown, CC BY 2.5 · Comerica Park: City of Detroit, Public domain · The Henry Ford: Alvintrusty, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fox Theatre: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Detroit Institute of Arts: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oak Park: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oak Park, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOak ParkNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offResource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County, 3 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOak Park City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2022
ZIP code4823748237 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Oak Park.
Oak Park has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more and has an unusually large share working from home, but it trails Huntington Woods and its other neighbors on schools.
SchoolsD
For schools, Oak Park earns a D
Each of its 5 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its D, Huntington Woods highest at A.
Its public schools are run by the School District of the City of Oak Park. Three of its 15 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
14%of MI districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park Preparatory AcademyLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 707 | D |
| Oak Park High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 798 | D− |
| Norup International SchoolTop results in townGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 672 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 2.8% of Oak Park
2.2 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. David H. Shepherd Park, at 42 acres with 1.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#297for trails in MI
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.8% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
2.8%
conserved · 91 of 3,273 acres
2.2 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. David H. Shepherd Park | 1.6 mi | 42 |
| 2. Charlotte M. Rothstein Park | 0.4 mi | 18 |
| 3. Key Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyC−
For safety, Oak Park earns a C−
Reported crimes fell from 771 to 588 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Oak Park’s property crime rate is 17 per 1,000 residents. Oak Park reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 78% report less. Oak Park’s violent crime rate is 3 per 1,000 residents.
22%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17 per 1,000 residents | 7.8 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Oak Park3
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Oak Park17
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
22nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among MI towns
88
violent crimes reported in 2025
500
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Most of Oak Park’s workers commute out: the town has 0.6 jobs for each of them
23.2% of workers work from home, against 13.5% across Michigan.
Most working residents leave Oak Park for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2011, Oak Park has lost 1,566 jobs, to 7,065 in 2021. 12% of residents live below the poverty line in Oak Park.
3%work in town
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $72,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Oak Park3%
Detroit18%
Southfield9%
Troy7%
Warren5%
10 mi
median commute distance
7,065
jobs based in Oak Park
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 70% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Oak Park
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 74% of U.S. communities. Since 2014, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Oak Park.
26risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
5
paid flood claims since 2014
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Oak Park
Oak Park has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 18° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–34°
Spring37–58°
Summer61–82°
Fall43–61°
Oct 15
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Oak Park are worth about $231K, by Zillow’s estimate
63% of Oak Park households own their home. Typical home values rose 1.8% in the year to September 2026. The median rent in Oak Park is $1,396 a month.
$231KZillow home value
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 63% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,396 a month | $1,045 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Oak Park$231K
Michigan$264K
Market temperature
17
days on market
100.8%
sale-to-list price
+1.8%
value change, 1 year
36
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Michigan’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Michigan average. 37% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Michigan.
38.1median age · MI 40.2
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 26% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.1 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 19% | 21% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 19% | 18% |
Oak ParkMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school20%
Some college28%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 91 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2 points). Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Oak Park | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.9% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.7% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.1% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.5% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.4% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.7% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 19.7% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.9% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.6% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.6% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.5% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthB−
Oak Park stands out in Michigan and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have been diagnosed with depression
Oak Park beats the Michigan average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
51%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Oak Park | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 27% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 16% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 82% | 80% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
6 better20 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Oak Park | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.6% | 8.9% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 20.7% | 25.7% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 12.7% | 8.7% |
Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield and Novi
1.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
51st
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oak Park
20pages on Oak Park
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 86% of MI districts · 15 schoolsSafetyC−3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than MI on 6 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$231K typical home · up 1.8% in a yearWork & commuteC+$72K median household income · 7,065 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 26% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
21 within 15 miles of the center of Oak Park
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater DetroitUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Oak ParkIn town$6,100 tuitionWayne State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Detroit9.3 mi$15,190 in-state tuitionMacomb Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Warren11.1 mi$3,660 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Oak Park residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Oak Park for work
Where Oak Park’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
7,065jobs based in Oak Park
3%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
Famous people from Oak Park
5 notable people were born in Oak Park.
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About Oak Park
City in Michigan, United States
Oak Park is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Oak Park borders Detroit to the north, roughly 14 miles (22.5 km) northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 29,560.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1927
- Area
- 5.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 666 ft
- ZIP code
- 48237
Oak Park’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Oak Park.
All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Southfield (C−) is closest.
FerndaleSouthfieldHuntington WoodsRoyal Oak TownshipBerkleyOak Park
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park | #643 | D | C | C− | D | B− |
| Ferndale | #396 | B− | C+ | C | C− | A |
| Southfield | #615 | C− | C− | D | C+ | B− |
| Huntington Woods | #5 | A+ | C− | A | A | A+ |
| Royal Oak Township | — | — | B | — | C− | A |
| Berkley | #1 | A+ | C | A | A | A+ |
Royal Oak Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Royal Oak Township reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Oak Park with a neighbor →
Questions about Oak Park
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oak Park, MI a good place to live?
Oak Park grades D overall, better than 13% of U.S. towns and #643 of 697 in Michigan. It grades B− for health, C− for safety and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Oak Park, MI expensive?
That is 3 years of the area's median household income ($76,664 across the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is Oak Park, MI known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Carrie Keranen and Ryan Perryman.