Located in beautiful Alameda County lies the culturally diverse city of Oakland, California. Just east of San Francisco via the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the city lies in the “East Bay” area. While you could commute into the city of San Francisco for dining or shopping, residents Oakland have enough activities right in their own proverbial backyards to make the journey unnecessary.

The weather here is not the foggy, misty gray that most imagine when thinking of the Bay Area. Rather, the weather tends to be temperate, with hills buffering Alameda County's cities to create a variety of microclimates. Temperatures in Oakland tend to hover around the 60-degree range throughout the year. In the fall, dry winds called Diablos (Spanish for “devils”) sometimes blow through the hills, creating what is known in other parts of the country as Indian summer.

Residents in Oakland are a truly diverse group of people. People come here from every corner of the globe, resulting in over one hundred languages and dialects being spoken in this area. Its population reflects that its is one of America's most ethnically integrated communities, and residents experience this through every imaginable type of restaurant, and a variety of world class artistic and cultural offerings. Residents here also benefit from Oakland's proximity to both San Francisco and the world-renowned wine regions of Napa, Sonoma and Carneros.

Oakland supports a population of approximately 405,000 residents, with a median age of 33 years old. The average home medium is $650,000. The average household income here is around $42,000 per year. While home values in the area have continued to appreciate at a steady level, Oakland offers a more affordable cost of living than many of its neighboring communities. Residents here tend to be fairly evenly divided in one of three major employment sectors. Professional services, the sciences and technology have a slight lead, employing about ten percent of the local population. Following closely behind is the retail trade, also employing just under ten percent. Finally, manufacturing takes third place, with just under nine percent of locals working in this sector.

Oakland residents have a plethora of sites and activities to engage in during their free time. Some choose to head to Chinatown for shopping and dining, while others choose to explore the waterfront at Jack London Square. Lake Merritt is a great place to sit by the water for a picnic, or to rent a boat and take to the water. For artistic and cultural performances, there is simply no place like Oakland. In fact, the city ranks second only to Manhattan for the number of artists-in-residence per capita. The city sponsors both a world-class symphony and ballet company, and there are hundreds of private dance and theater troupes here.

Dining options in Oakland are just as diverse. A local specialty is pan-seared fresh salmon, and you can order this dish at a posh waterfront bistro or prepared in the style of any number of nations at small family-owned trattorias. You might dine in a converted warehouse in the downtown district, or sample the strange yet fantastic combination of jazz and sushi at a restaurant in Jack London Square. For nightlife, Oakland has plenty of bars, nightclubs and live music venues.

With its temperate climate, Oakland is an ideal place for outdoor activities. The city has over fifty parks, along with hundreds of miles of trails designed for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. There are three municipal golf courses designed to entertain players ranging from beginner to intermediate. If spectator sports are more to your liking, Oakland has both the NFL Oakland Raiders and the NBA Golden State Warriors. It is worth noting that the Golden State Warriors, along with only the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are charter members of the NBA.

Oakland is truly a diverse community that welcomes people from every corner of America and the globe to call it home. This is a thriving and vibrant city, full of the simple pleasures of art, culture and good food. If you are thinking about moving, consider a move to Oakland, California! To learn more, request our free relocation packet today.