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Cost of living, pay and housing

45.03° N · 92.81° W · GEOID 2747914

Oak Park Heights

Washington County, Minnesota · part of the Minneapolis, MN metro

Limited data population under 5,000

MinnesotaOak Park Heights, MNOak Park HeightsOak Park Heights

The short answer

Oak Park Heights is home to 4,756 people. Median household income is $82,476 a year and median rent is $1,443 a month, 21.0% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $354,800, about 4.3x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,443
6% above the median place
Median household income
$82,476
3% above the median place
Median home value
$354,800
11% above the median place
Unemployment
3.4%
31% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Oak Park Heights

  • Between the 2019 and 2024 surveys, household income rose 6.2% a year while rent rose -2.5%, so pay gained on rent more than in 96% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 151 Minnesota places.
  • Households average 1.89 people, smaller than in 97% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 151 Minnesota places.
  • Renters occupy 54% of homes, more than in 93% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 151 Minnesota places.
  • The median resident is 51.3 years old, older than in 93% of places its size. It is the highest of 151 Minnesota places.
  • The population has fallen 4.6% since 2020, a steeper drop than in 93% of places its size.
01

Moving to Oak Park Heights

Washington County gains about 7.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in16,250
Moved out14,269
Net+1,981

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Minnesota, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MinnesotaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$81K
Leavers$85K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Washington County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.4% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.2% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Washington County report $81,200 a year in income on average; those leaving, $84,900.
Income you would need
$57,700 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,443 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,151 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $354,800.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 16.5% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Gulf Shores, AL matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
6.4%
11% above the median place
Moved from another state1
2.2%
13% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
7.9
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year16.4%11% above
Moved from another state12.2%13% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure7.9above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$81,21215% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$84,94421% above
02

What it costs to live here

Homeownership is 46.4%, 30% below the median place.

Oak Park Heights21.0%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$57,720
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
21.0%
3% above the median place
Home price to income
4.3x
13% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$62,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Oak Park Heights, $1,443 a month, and local prices for everything else (103.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Oak Park Heights, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Halls, TN15.5% vs 21.0%$18,200Compare
Greenville, RI15.6% vs 21.0%$17,900Compare
Westerly, RI15.9% vs 21.0%$16,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Oak Park Heights.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Oak Park Heights? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
46.4%
30% below the median place
Vacant homes1
10.5%
49% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
56.4%
11% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,4436% above
Rent to income121.0%3% above
Property tax rate11.0%8% above
Home price to income14.3x13% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure104.84% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,7347% above
HUD area median income4County figure$131,50023% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,4867% above
Median home value1$354,80011% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure1.8%44% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure35.0%32% below
Homeownership146.4%30% below
Renters paying 30%+156.4%11% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,15115% above
Vacant homes110.5%49% above
Median year built119881% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Poverty rate1
7.1%
34% below the median place
Works from home1
16.5%
33% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$46,088 +15%
Mean commute24 min −4%
Median household income$82,476 +3%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$82,4763% above
Income per person1$46,08815% above
Unemployment1County figure3.4%31% below
Average annual pay6County figure$63,6364% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.8%30% above
Jobs6County figure96,63536% below
Poverty rate17.1%34% below
Mean commute124 min4% below
Works from home116.5%33% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Household size is 1.9, 24% below the median place.

Household size1
1.9
24% below the median place
Median age1
51.3
32% above the median place
Population change since 20207
-4.6%
below the median place (median 1.1%)

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher97.7% +6%
Born abroad4.3% −51%
Homes with broadband89.0% −4%
Bachelor's or higher38.9% +21%
All 9 people measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population14,7566646th largest
Population change since 20207-4.6%below (median 1.1%)
Median age151.332% above
Bachelor's or higher138.9%21% above
High school or higher197.7%6% above
Household size11.924% below
Born abroad14.3%51% below
No health insurance1County figure3.5%45% below
Homes with broadband189.0%4% below
05

Life in Oak Park Heights

2 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.

  • Lake St. Croix Overlook listed 2007
  • Log Cabin listed 2007

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents48.4 4.8×
Playgrounds per 10k54.7 5.8×
Grocery stores per 10k10.5 5.0×
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k35.7 3.2×
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails11 km 5.5×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi2.4 11.4×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars16.0 −23%
Shops25.3 −17%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.8 +41%
Doctors' offices and clinics19.5 −3%
Child care centers2.4 +4%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools13
97
above the median place (median 9)
Restaurants and bars per 10k9
16.0
23% below the median place
Public school students13
46,165
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure97above (median 9)
Public school students13County figure46,165above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher13County figure17.816% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure16.023% below
Shops per 10k9County figure25.317% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure5.841% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure19.53% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure2.44% above
Parks per 10k1048.4376% above
Playgrounds per 10k1054.7above (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k1010.5396% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1035.7221% above
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails1011.1above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi102.4above (median 0.2)
National Register listings11285% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 130, 32% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
130
32% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
2,137
76% above the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low14
6°F
75% below the median place
Good air days16
94.9%
39% above the median place
Average temperature14
45°F
18% below the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureOak Park HeightsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure82°F6% below
January average low14County figure6°F75% below
Average temperature14County figure45°F18% below
Annual precipitation14County figure33.0 in25% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure83.99% below
Tornado risk15County figure94.416% above
Wildfire risk15County figure64.05% above
Heat wave risk15County figure80.311% below
Median air quality index16County figure3421% below
Good air days16County figure94.9%39% above
08

Oak Park Heights in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 20% of the median income in 2030, down from 21% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,443/mo (2024)$1,780/mo$1,460 to $2,170/mo+3.5%
Median household income$82,476 (2024)$105,000$88,500 to $124,000+4.1%
Median home value$354,800 (2024)$505,000$367,000 to $696,000+6.1%
Population4,625 (2025)4,5304,350 to 4,720−0.4%

The median home would be worth 4.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Oak Park Heights

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Gulf Shores, AL$1,483$78,188Compare
Bella Vista, AR$1,395$88,055Compare
Merritt Island, FL$1,441$94,012Compare
Lake Geneva, WI$1,389$75,629Compare
Lake Geneva, WIMerritt Island, FLBella Vista, ARGulf Shores, ALOak Park Heights, MNOak Park HeightsGulf ShoresBella VistaMerritt IslandLake GenevaOak Park HeightsGulf ShoresBella VistaMerritt IslandLake Geneva

Common questions

Is Oak Park Heights a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Between the 2019 and 2024 surveys, household income rose 6.2% a year while rent rose -2.5%, so pay gained on rent more than in 96% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 151 Minnesota places. Households average 1.89 people, smaller than in 97% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 151 Minnesota places. On cost, space and class size it scores 17 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Oak Park Heights expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 21.0% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $354,800.

What salary do you need to live in Oak Park Heights?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $57,720 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Oak Park Heights safe?

There were 130 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Oak Park Heights?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Gulf Shores, AL, Bella Vista, AR, Merritt Island, FL and Lake Geneva, WI.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Oak Park Heights with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Oak Park Heights itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/oak-park-heights-minnesota

Citytistics. “Oak Park Heights, Minnesota.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/oak-park-heights-minnesota/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.