CountyScore

Oakland County

Michigan · MI

#78 in Michigan
61.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Oakland County, Michigan

Oakland ranks 22% above national median

Oakland County's composite score of 60.9 exceeds the national median of 50.0, marking it as a more livable-than-average American county. However, it lags behind the other seven Michigan counties in this cohort.

Below Michigan's average county performance

Oakland's 60.9 score falls notably below Michigan's state average of 68.7, ranking it among the weaker performers in this state comparison. It ranks last among these eight Michigan counties.

Strong income levels offset higher costs

Oakland's median household income of $95,296 is the highest among these eight counties, earning an income score of 45.6. This substantial earning power helps offset the county's higher housing and tax burdens.

Expensive housing and substantial tax load

Oakland carries the highest costs in this group: median home value of $320,400 and median rent of $1,319 monthly, yielding a cost score of just 61.7. An effective tax rate of 1.324% produces a tax score of 65.0. Data on safety, health, schools, and environment remain unavailable.

Best for high-earning professionals and executives

Oakland County is ideal for well-compensated workers, executives, and established professionals who can afford premium housing and taxes. It's less suitable for budget-conscious families or those with moderate incomes seeking value.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax65Cost61.7SafetyComing SoonHealth82.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome45.6Risk2.5WaterComing Soon
🏛65
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠61.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼45.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤82.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡2.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Oakland County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Sutter County
California
61.4
Median income: $75,450
Hall County
Georgia
61.4
Median income: $77,430
Pottawattamie County
Iowa
61.4
Median income: $71,446
Geary County
Kansas
61.4
Median income: $57,344
Crosby County
Texas
61.4
Median income: $52,197

Deep Dives

Oakland County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Oakland County

via TaxByCounty

Oakland's taxes rank in top 10% nationally

Oakland County's effective tax rate of 1.324% places it in the highest decile nationally, well above the national median of 1.099%. The median annual property tax of $4,241 nearly matches the national median of $2,690 despite the fact that Oakland's median home value ($320,400) exceeds the national median by 13%.

Michigan's highest-tax county

Oakland leads all Michigan counties with an effective tax rate of 1.324%, towering above the state average of 1.166%. This premium reflects the county's high-value properties and robust public funding priorities in affluent suburbs.

Steepest taxes in the region

Oakland's 1.324% rate dramatically exceeds every other county in this analysis, including Muskegon (1.260%) and Monroe (1.155%). Southeast Michigan residents in Oakland bear substantially heavier tax burdens than their neighbors.

What $320,400 home costs annually

Oakland homeowners with a median-valued property pay approximately $4,241 in annual property taxes. Including mortgage-related assessments, the total reaches about $4,430 per year—more than three times what a Montmorency homeowner pays.

Challenge assessments in high-value market

Oakland's affluent market can lead to inflated property assessments, especially in transitional neighborhoods. If your home was recently reassessed above recent comparable sales, file a formal appeal to the county to recover potential thousands in annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Oakland County

via CostByCounty

Oakland: Premium income, premium costs

Oakland residents earn $20,541 more than the national median and spend 16.6% on rent—just above the 16.3% national average despite far higher absolute costs. This reflects Oakland's status as Michigan's economic powerhouse, where strong incomes offset premium housing prices.

Michigan's wealth and affordability leader

Oakland's 16.6% rent-to-income ratio barely exceeds Michigan's 16.3% average, a remarkable achievement given the county's $1,319 median rent—the state's highest. Oakland's exceptional income ($95,296 median) allows residents to absorb these premium costs while maintaining affordability comparable to much cheaper counties.

The region's premium destination

Oakland's $1,319 rent dramatically exceeds all peer counties—nearly $300 more than Monroe and nearly $500 more than Montcalm—yet Oakland's 16.6% burden remains competitive. This paradox reflects Oakland's role as Michigan's wealth center, where higher incomes justify premium housing costs and maintain reasonable affordability ratios.

Wealth sustains premium housing costs

Oakland's $95,296 median income supports $1,319 monthly rent (16.6%) and $1,483 ownership costs (18.6%), the highest absolute figures in this analysis. Despite these premium prices, Oakland residents retain more discretionary income than lower-earning counties due to substantially higher earnings.

For high earners seeking opportunity

Oakland offers Michigan's strongest job market and highest incomes, making it ideal for professionals and executives willing to pay premium housing prices for access to opportunity. If your salary trajectory will place you well above Oakland's $95,296 median, the county's premium housing costs become genuinely affordable and competitive.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Oakland County

via IncomeByCounty

Oakland County far exceeds national income

Oakland County's median household income of $95,296 substantially exceeds the national median of $74,755 by over $20,500. At 27% above the national average, Oakland County ranks among America's most affluent counties.

Michigan's highest-earning county

Oakland County's median household income of $95,296 towers above Michigan's county average of $64,304 by approximately $31,000. The county dominates Michigan's income rankings, leading all 83 counties in median household earnings.

Vastly outearns all surrounding counties

Oakland County's $95,296 median income dramatically exceeds Monroe County ($75,272), Montcalm ($64,892), Muskegon ($63,495), and all other nearby counties. The income gap reflects Oakland's status as a major business and professional center in Michigan.

Premium housing remains manageable

Despite a median home value of $320,400, Oakland's rent-to-income ratio of 16.6% keeps housing costs comfortably affordable. Higher incomes allow households to absorb both upscale properties and the strong housing market.

Prime opportunity for wealth acceleration

Oakland County's high median income of $95,296 creates substantial capacity for aggressive wealth building and investment. Residents should maximize retirement contributions, explore diversified investment portfolios, and consider real estate and business opportunities to leverage their strong income advantage.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Oakland County

via HealthByCounty

Oakland County leads in health outcomes

Oakland County's 79.1-year life expectancy far exceeds the U.S. average of 76.4 years by 2.7 years, placing it among America's healthiest counties. With only 12.0% reporting poor or fair health—well below the national average of 18%—Oakland residents enjoy substantially better health than typical Americans.

Michigan's health leader by far

Oakland's 79.1-year life expectancy towers 2.8 years above Michigan's state average of 76.3 years, making it the standout health performer in the state sample. At 4.7% uninsured, Oakland is well below Michigan's 6.4% average, meaning most residents have insurance protection.

Dramatically more providers available

Oakland offers 138 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—roughly double or triple neighboring counties—and 460 mental health providers per 100,000, the highest in the region. This abundance of healthcare professionals reflects Oakland's affluent, densely populated suburban character and directly supports its leading health outcomes.

Best healthcare access in Michigan

Oakland County's 4.7% uninsured rate means nearly everyone has health coverage, enabling easy access to the county's robust provider network. With 138 primary care and 460 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, Oakland residents can find appointments quickly and access comprehensive preventive and behavioral health services.

Most Oakland residents already insured

Oakland's excellent coverage rates mean most families already enjoy financial protection for healthcare, but if you're uninsured, closing that gap amplifies your access to the county's exceptional provider network. Visit Healthcare.gov or your employer's benefits to ensure you're taking full advantage of available care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Oakland County

via RiskByCounty

Oakland faces the highest disaster risk in Michigan

Oakland County's composite risk score of 97.52 dramatically exceeds the national average, earning a "Relatively High" rating that signals exceptional natural disaster vulnerability. The county's risk is nearly double the national typical score, reflecting concentrated exposure to multiple severe hazards.

Michigan's most disaster-prone county

Oakland County's 97.52 composite score is the highest in Michigan, nearly double the state average of 49.56, making it an extreme outlier in statewide natural disaster risk. No other Michigan county faces comparable combined hazard exposure across floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other disasters.

Far riskier than surrounding counties

Oakland's 97.52 score vastly exceeds neighboring counties and nearby regions, making it a clear hazard hotspot for southeast Michigan. The county stands alone as Michigan's most disaster-vulnerable area by a substantial margin.

Tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes pose major threats

Tornado risk of 99.71 and flood risk of 97.49 are among the worst in the nation, while earthquake risk of 86.67 adds a third severe hazard unique to this region. These three factors combine to create an exceptional and multi-faceted natural disaster risk profile.

Comprehensive protection is essential for Oakland residents

Oakland County homeowners must secure homeowners insurance with robust tornado and wind coverage, plus mandatory separate flood insurance—standard policies exclude flood damage. Given the county's extreme composite risk, reviewing coverage annually with an insurance professional is strongly recommended.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.