Thriving cultural and entertainment district in downtown Oakland
Oakland's Uptown neighborhood is a thriving cultural district with historic charm and preserved iconic city buildings like the Fox Oakland Theater and the Paramount Theatre. Redeveloped in the early 2000s, it’s now designated the city's official "Arts and Culture District," which is vibrantly showcased through the neighborhood’s numerous colorful murals, unique public art installations and community art walk events. “The reason people are moving here is because it’s so vibrant and there’s so much at your fingertips,” says Realtor Kim Cole, owner of Kim Cole Real Estate. “It’s a hub for entertainment and recreation, and it’s a foodie paradise.” Along with a bustling lifestyle scene, Uptown is also known for its high walkability and central convenience. “We are right next to BART Station and one block away from the intersection,” says Alonza Ellis, a resident and leasing manager for The Uptown apartment complex. “We are right in the middle of everything and literally have everything within our grasp.”
A beautiful mural by Rachel Wolfe Goldsmith decorates a building on the streets of Uptown.
Uptown workers meet up for drinks and food after working downtown Oakland.
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Trendy downtown shopping and multicultural dining
All kinds of top dining establishments are a short walk away from many homes. Shinmai is a highly rated Japanese cuisine spot known for its ramen offerings with a California twist. This Japanese-muraled restaurant also showcases an industrial-style setting where residents can enjoy an open kitchen concept-style dining experience. Just a few blocks south of the neighborhood is Bar Shiru, a dimly lit, relaxed nighttime spot mixing up Tokyo-inspired cocktails within a jazz vinyl-plastered interior space. Nearby Deluge is a sumptuous, omakase-style sushi counter with a daily chef's choice menu. Deluge is located in Swan’s Market, a popular gathering place with local restaurants and shops in a mixed-use building. Along Broadway Avenue are Sprouts Farmers Market, Grocery Outlet and Target.
Uptown's Shinmai puts a California spin on Izakaya style eats.
Uptown's Bar Shiru has a wall devoted to classic vinyl records.
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Repurposed residential warehouses
Uptown offers a mix of residential buildings and towering commercial spaces just a few blocks from Lake Merritt. Condos are the most common housing option here, with repurposed warehouses and factories bringing vintage character and charm while new developments offer sleek, modern amenities. The area also features numerous vintage, historic buildings designed in the early 20th century that have been restored into condominium buildings. Uptown has a couple of side streets sprinkled with a few iconic single-family Bay Area Victorian homes that display decorative period details and playful color schemes. The district is also home to Preservation Park, a pocket of early 20th-century Victorians that were saved from demolition during the construction of a nearby highway. Prices for these historic Victorian homes can range from around $750,000 to $1 million, while area condo prices range from around $500,000 to $1 million.
The Cathedral Building personifies the iconic architecture in the uptown neighborhood.
Latham Square in Uptown is always full of life.
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Cultural theater hubs and central city parks
Residents can walk out their front doors and experience some of the city’s best-known cultural attractions. The Paramount Theatre and Fox Theatre are two top destinations where locals go to watch world-class musical and theatrical acts. Built in 1931, the Paramount Theatre is an impressive Art Deco concert hall that's home to the Oakland East Bay Symphony and the Oakland Ballet. The Fox Oakland Theatre, just a few blocks away, features a Middle Eastern-influenced façade with elaborate gold accents and a striking dome. Like the Paramount, it opened as a movie house in the early 20th century but now operates as a concert hall. The area has several museums, including the Museum of Children’s Arts and the African American Museum. For outdoor recreation, the neighborhood has a few small parks to enjoy. Residents can relax in the shade of a 100-year-old oak tree at Lafayette Square or take in the cityscape from Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, an open space next to Oakland City Hall surrounded by several Beaux-Arts-style commercial buildings. The Oakland Ice Center is also nearby, an indoor ice rink that offers figure skating and hockey classes. With Uptown’s proximity to Lake Merritt, residents can enjoy boating, sailing and gondola rides.
Uptown's iconic Paramount Theater is a 3,040-seat Art Deco concert hall built in 1931.
Uptown's Frank Ogawa Plaza features a bust portraying the namesake of the park.
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Concerts and theatrical performances at the Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre provides a jam-packed yearly lineup of concerts, ballet performances and Broadway shows. One of the biggest and most beloved district gatherings is Uptown’s First Fridays series, a monthly art walk that showcases art, new installations and exhibitions from various Bay Area artists.
Uptown's Frank Ogawa Plaza regularly is home to large events and protests.
Uptown's Frank Ogawa Plaza regularly hosts Amplify Oakland's community meditations.
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Top-rated public schools with special academies
Students can attend Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, which gets a C-rating by Niche, followed by the C-minus-rated Westlake Middle School. The A-rated Oakland Technical High School, known locally as “Tech,” is a sought-after Bay Area school. Students at Oakland Technical High can enroll in one of the school’s specialty academies in the areas of computers, health, fashion, and arts and design.
Westlake Middle School provides each child with excellent teachers every day.
The Oakland Technical High School serves teenagers in grades 9-12.
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School provides an education for Uptown locals.
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Within walking distance of 19th Street-Oakland BART Station
Interstate 980/John B. Williams Freeway is on the neighborhood's western border, a major thoroughfare for traveling and commuting around and outside the city. Multiple public bus routes are also located throughout the Uptown neighborhood, and the 19th Street/Oakland BART Station is within walking distance of residences, local shops and restaurants.
Uptown has easy access to the BART, which connects the neighborhood to the rest of the Bay Area.
Uptown is a hub for AC Transit bus lines which spread out throughout Oakland.
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Higher than average crime rate
Uptown receives a crime CAP score of 7, which is higher than the national average of 4. As of 2024, some of the area’s largest corporations, including Blue Shield of California, Clorox and Kaiser Permanente, have donated around $10 million to the city to help amp up security in Uptown and Downtown to create a safe zone.
Street protests are a regular occurrence in the uptown neighborhood.
Uptown's streets are full of graffiti and vandalism.
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Unique two-story, live-work condominium featuring a kitchen with oven, range and refrigerator, full bathroom, large closet, all-in-one washer and dryer. Spiral staircase leads to what could be the sleeping area or office. Creative space to meet your needs. One-parking space and access to the buildings' common areas including a fitness room, dog run, courtyard with BBQ and package room. BART is
Welcome to 634 22nd Street, a beautifully restored 1896 Victorian gem nestled in the heart of Uptown Oakland. This **5-bedroom, 3-bathroom** residence offers 2,161 square feet of thoughtfully updated living space, including a **2-bedroom, 1-bath ADU**—perfect for guests, rental income, or multigenerational living. Step inside to discover soaring ceilings, engineered wood and tile flooring, and a
Nestled within the historic Cathedral Building, Unit 8 at 1615 Broadway, Oakland, CA, offers a rare opportunity to reside in a piece of architectural grandeur. Designed by Benjamin Geer McDougall and completed in 1914, the Gothic Revival-style skyscraper is a landmark masterpiece, known for its iconic triangular form that graces the bustling intersection of Broadway and Telegraph Avenue.
The Moran is a new community of boutique apartments located in Oakland’s dynamic Uptown neighborhood. Here, you’re a 4-minute walk to the 19th Street BART station and a 13-minute ride to San Francisco. A WalkScore of 95 and a BikeScore of 91 means you’re never far from places you need and want to be – and Uptown is full of enough exciting shops, galleries, music venues, restaurants and bars to
Our leasing office is open for in-person tours by appointment or walk-in. Schedule yours today!Forma Uptown is the best of Oakland; an apartment community centered in one of the worlds most prolific art scenes; a direct extension of the vibrancy that lies just beyond the front doors. A living experience built on the idea that creativity is a fundamental and purposeful part of every day
At The Uptown, we’re all about options — beginning with a robust selection of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. Choose between dark espresso, light maple, or white custom cabinetry for your open-design kitchen which features counter seating and island options. Homes include designer pendants and track lighting. Take a look at our full range of amenities, choose your floor plan,
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,491
Median Age
38
Population Density
50 ppl/acre
Population under 18
16.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$149,467
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$140,552
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
83.8%
College Graduates
61.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
27.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
22''
Average Winter Low Temperature
45°F
Average Summer High Temperature
73°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
93/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
85/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
