West Oakland
Oak Center holds numerous parks, while the Lower Bottoms host history
West Oakland offers abundant community parks, mainly centralized in the Oak Center subdivision. Pacific Pipe features climbing walls for indoor rock climbing with options for beginners or experts. For a pickup game, residents head to De Fremery Park, Raimondi Park or Lowell Park, all of which contain infrastructure for sports, from soccer fields to tennis and basketball courts. Further south in the Lower Bottoms are several unique sites dedicated to activist and scholar Dr. Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party, founded in Oakland in 1967. The Lower Bottoms preserves West Oakland’s rich history of African American culture, arts and activism, from its street art to the bronze bust of Huey Newton and the newly built Black Panther Party Mini Museum that opened in January 2024. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park offers panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and container-stacked freighters rumbling into the Port of Oakland. These parks may be rough around the edges, but they’re filled with community spirit, just like West Oakland.Michelin-awarded restaurants and conscious grocery options
West Oakland is home to several trendy culinary destinations; two restaurants in the neighborhood received Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, celebrating establishments that serve exceptional foods at moderate prices. The first is Horn Barbecue, known for its heaping trays of brisket, pulled pork and sausage. The second is Soba Ichi, a Michelin-ranked Japanese restaurant serving noodles and duck breast, whose chic, inviting patio is tucked away behind graffiti-streaked fences and metal scrapyards. On Sunday mornings, head to the West Oakland Farmer’s Market to browse rows of locally sourced produce and artisan vendors. The Mandela Grocery Cooperative is in the Lower Bottoms subdivision and sells organic foods for conscious consumers.Older victorians and newly-built condos line the streets
Home prices typically range from around $600,000 to nearly $1 million, depending on square footage and remodel status. West Oakland experienced a residential decline in the 1980s and 90s but has since been on the upswing, with new construction rising in recent years. Old and new homes sit side by side in West Oakland, with an abundance of late 19th-century Victorian homes with ornate turrets and ornamental trim. Many have been updated, renovated or repainted to give them a fresh, modern look. “We’ve seen a lot of buyers fix up their homes with new kitchens and bathrooms. Some flippers have come in and taken homes down to the foundation and rebuilt them,” Giannini says. In recent years, townhomes and condo buildings have begun popping up throughout the area for those seeking a smaller living space, and most of West Oakland’s residents are renters. Some industrial buildings have also been converted into sleek, contemporary living quarters.Oakland Unified School District for public options, and The Crucible for artistic students
Students in West Oakland have plenty of options for public and charter education. The neighborhood falls under the Oakland Unified School District, with nearby options including Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, rated a C on Niche; West Oakland Middle School, rated a C-minus; and McClymonds High School, which holds a C-plus rating. All three options are located within the neighborhood, just a simple school bus ride or walk from residential streets. For an alternative, there's KIPP Bridge Academy, a K-8 public charter school specializing in college prep and student mental health. Creative pupils can check out the offerings at The Crucible, an industrial art school and community institution in the neighborhood since 2003.Connected to BART, several highways and San Francisco by car
West Oakland has close access to many points of interest across the Bay Area. Being bordered on all sides by major highways, residents can take their pick for their commutes. Take Interstate 80 11 miles west to be in downtown San Francisco, while a 3-mile drive south takes residents to Alameda. The shopping and nightlife of downtown Oakland is less than 2 miles east. In addition to car travel, there’s a BART station in West Oakland for commuter rail options, while AC Transit runs public buses on major thoroughfares throughout the neighborhood for public access through the city.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Photography Contributed By
Marcell Puzsar
Video By
Bob Yukich
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lauren Quach
Lauren Quach
COMPASS
(628) 250-5774
77 Total Sales
7 in West Oakland
$600K - $823K Price Range
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Lizbeth Alarcon
Lizbeth Alarcon
eXp Realty of Northern Califor
(707) 615-1824
313 Total Sales
1 in West Oakland
$175,000 Price
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Flavio Amaral
Flavio Amaral
RE/MAX Accord
(510) 851-9915
111 Total Sales
1 in West Oakland
$781,560 Price
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Andy Read
Andy Read
Corcoran Icon Properties
(925) 940-3953
49 Total Sales
5 in West Oakland
$523K - $1.2M Price Range
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David Juarez
David Juarez
Compass
(628) 201-6902
78 Total Sales
1 in West Oakland
$525,000 Price
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Nick Flageollet
Nick Flageollet
Compass
(415) 548-8485
72 Total Sales
1 in West Oakland
$140,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Cypress Freeway Memorial Park
Lowell Park
DeFremery Park
West Oakland Farm Park
Raimondi Park
Willow Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | West Oakland | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
West Oakland Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Oakland, Oakland sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in West Oakland, Oakland over the last 12 months is $470,000, up 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$350,000
Median Sale Price
$470,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$470,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$320,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$599,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
96
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
17%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$260
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,378
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Median Year Built
1910
Months of Supply
1.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,402
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,956
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,286
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,162
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
784
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,049
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 21:30 - 3:30pm
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Sunday, Aug 31 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
$1,775 - $2,677 per month
- Prescott Station
- Studio-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 425+ Sq Ft
- 2121 Wood St
- Oakland, CA
-
-
Condo Buildings
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
25,276
Median Age
39
Population Density
19 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$71,770
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$111,584
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.8%
College Graduates
44.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.2%
% Population in Labor Force
71.1%
Above the national average
65.1%
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®
91
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
81
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
57
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Hoover-Foster
Small community north of Downtown Oakland and blocks from the San Francisco Bay
San Pablo Gateway
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Uptown
A thriving cultural and entertainment district in the heart of downtown Oakland
Longfellow
Quiet neighborhood with local history and unique restaurant/ retail
Old Oakland
A section of Oakland that's long had an energetic flair
City Center-Oakland
Condos and high-rises with new plazas and restaurants in Downtown Oakland
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