Oakdale, MN 10-30-2009, 2009
Oakdale’s story
168 years in pictures
Census counts: 7,795 in 1970, 28,303 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1949 on.
- 1858Oakdale is settled
Population
30,588
2025 Census estimate · +8.1% since 2020
Typical home
$356K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
39.7
years
Jobs based here
11,276
Balanced
TownGrade
B
#186 of 271 in MN
Is Oakdale a good place to live?
Oakdale grades B overall, 186th among Minnesota's 271 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $94K and residents are healthier than 75% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its lowest everyday mark is in schools: its public schools trail 68% of Minnesota towns on state tests and graduation. A typical home there costs about $356K, 3.6 years of the Minneapolis metro’s $100K median household income. Oakdale’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, above both Minnesota’s towns (0.5) and U.S. towns (0.4). Only 55 of Minnesota’s 575 towns score higher on hazard risk. Oakdale's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 88% of U.S. towns.
What makes Oakdale stand out
Where Oakdale beats most towns.
How Oakdale grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Oakdale is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.3 of 20; 4.8% of households have no carA−Open →HealthM Health Fairview St. John's Hospital 4.5 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsCOpen →SafetyC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4% conserved landAOpen →HistoryC−Open →Civic life2.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 82° summer afternoons, 40″ of snow–Open →Housing market22 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.7–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 73 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Oakdale. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
7 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
13 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
15 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
7 mi MuseumMinnesota State Capitol
10 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz FieldSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Minnesota State Capitol: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oakdale: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oakdale, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOakdale water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpHire your ownNo town pickup: you hire a private haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWashington County Government CenterWashington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5512855128 100%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 Oakdale.
Oakdale costs less than Woodbury or any other town next door and gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of Minnesota; it also scores below Lake Elmo and its other neighbors on health.
OutdoorsA
4.4% of Oakdale is conserved land
13 miles of trail in 19 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Oakdale Nature Preserve, 210 acres with 2.3 miles of trail.
#35for trails in MN
4.4%
conserved · 319 of 7,190 acres
13 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Oakdale Nature Preserve | 2.3 mi | 210 |
| 2. Powerline Park | — | 50 |
| 3. Richard Walton Park | — | 38 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Oakdale earns a C for schools
Each of its 3 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its C, Mahtomedi highest at A+.
Its public schools are run by the North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale school district. Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
32%of MN districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyview Community MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,029 | C+ |
| Tartan Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,687 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Oakdale earns an A− for health
All 3 graded neighbors score healthier than its A−, from Lake Elmo (A) to Woodbury (A+).
28% of Oakdale adults sleep under 7 hours, below both the Minnesota town median (30%) and the median of U.S. towns (36%). 15% of Oakdale adults binge drink. Oakdale tracks Minnesota closely on all 32 CDC measures.
75%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital
4.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
54th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Low risk in Oakdale, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 79% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Oakdale.
21risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
2
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Oakdale, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The U Of Mn St Paul weather station, 11 miles away, records that 40 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 83% of Minnesota places with climate records. January nights average 6.9°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 97% of Minnesota places with climate records; July afternoons average 81.6°.
Oakdale has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The January low in Oakdale is 7°F.
40″snow a winter
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 7°F | 6°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer60–80°
Fall39–56°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most of Oakdale’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Oakdale for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Oakdale has added 2,441 jobs, to 11,276 in 2023. 20% of workers work from home in Oakdale.
6%work in town
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 20% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $94,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.4% | 9.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Oakdale6%
St. Paul19%
Minneapolis10%
Woodbury5%
Edina4%
11 mi
median commute distance
11,276
jobs based in Oakdale
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyC+
More crime per resident in Oakdale than in 59% of U.S. towns
Oakdale’s property crime rate is 14.1 per 1,000 residents.
41%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 14.1 per 1,000 residents | 8.6 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Oakdale1.4
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Oakdale14.1
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
41st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
33rd
percentile among MN towns
43
violent crimes reported in 2025
437
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like Minnesota’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Minnesota average. Oakdale has grown 8.1% since 2020, to 30,588 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
39.7median age · MN 38.8
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 33% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 18% | 18% |
OakdaleMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school24%
Some college20%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.6 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Oakdale | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.5% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.1% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.3% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.7% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.4% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.4% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.4% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.2% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.3% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C+
Oakdale earns a C+ for cost of living
Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Woodbury is next at $461K.
The typical Oakdale home is worth about $356,000, up 3.4% in a year, close to the Minnesota typical home.
$356KZillow home value
| Oakdale | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,481 a month | $1,192 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 55% | 48% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Oakdale$356K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
22
days on market
101%
sale-to-list price
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
32
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oakdale
19pages on Oakdale
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 68% of MN districts · 9 schoolsSafetyC+1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than MN on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$356K typical home · up 3.4% in a yearWork & commuteA$94K median household income · 11,276 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
19 within 15 miles of the center of Oakdale
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · White Bear Lake3.9 mi$6,214 in-state tuitionMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Paul5.8 mi$9,840 in-state tuitionSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · Saint Paul7.6 mi$6,326 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Oakdale residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
About Oakdale
City in Minnesota, United States
Oakdale is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. It is a suburb of Saint Paul in the eastern Twin Cities Metropolitan area. The population was 28,303 at the 2020 census. Oakdale is Minnesota's 36th-largest city by population. Oakdale lies entirely within the North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale school district, ISD 622, and the city's students are split into two high schools within the district. Tartan Senior High School is within the city's boundaries, and serves the southern half of Oakdale. The city's northern residents are served by North High School in North St. Paul. The 45th parallel runs directly through Oakdale, bisecting the city generally along Upper 35th Street Nort…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,070 ft
- Area code
- 651
Oakdale’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Oakdale.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its B; Lake Elmo (A−) is closest. Lake Elmo next door grades higher for schools (A to Oakdale’s C) and lower for cost of living (D to C+).
Lake ElmoWoodburyMahtomediPine SpringsOakdale
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale | #186 | B | C+ | C+ | C | A− |
| Lake Elmo | #117 | A− | D | — | A | A |
| Woodbury | #92 | A | C− | B | A− | A+ |
| Mahtomedi | #51 | A | C− | — | A+ | A |
| Pine Springs | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Lake Elmo and Mahtomedi report no FBI crime data of their own. Pine Springs isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Oakdale with a neighbor →
Questions about Oakdale
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oakdale, MN a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Oakdale grades B overall, better than 62% of U.S. towns and #186 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A− for health, C+ for safety and C for schools.
Is Oakdale, MN expensive?
Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 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+.