Are you moving to Oakland? Moving to a new location can be exciting. However, despite the anticipation and excitement, it can also be stressful if you’re not familiar with the area. Whether it’s a job-related move or just an attempt to live in a warm city, it’ll be beneficial if you know a little about the city before you move. Below is some helpful information about Oakland that should make your move as informed and easy as possible.
Choosing the Right Neighborhood
When choosing the right neighborhood to live in there are a variety of factors to consider. Before you start looking, you need to evaluate what is important to you. Do you want to be near good schools? Do you want to be close to your job? These are all questions you need ask yourself before searching. Below are some areas of Oakland and what makes qualities make these neighborhoods special.
- Schools – While Oakland has other good schools, many parents find some of the best schools in the Lamorinda area, which includes Moraga, Lafayette and Orinda.
- Dogs and pets – Piedmont, Rockridge and Elmwood are dog-friendly areas.
- Low rent areas – If finances are a concern, both West Oakland and the East Oakland areas, may be worth checking out.
- Public transportation – Downtown Oakland and Rockridge provide public transportation making the commute to the Bay area easy and convenient.
- Upper class – Individuals and families interested in higher-class neighborhoods typically find Forestland, Montclair and Claremont Hills ideal neighborhoods.
- City life – Downtown Oakland is the perfect place to live if you enjoy the hustle bustle of city life.
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Jobs and Economy
Despite the up and down economy of the past few years, Oakland has much to offer in the way of large companies and businesses offering employment. It’s also a diverse group that includes tech companies, airlines, hospitals and delivery service companies.
Below are Oakland’s ten largest companies as well as the number of workers employed in Oakland.
- Kaiser Permanente –11,734
- Alameda County – 4,500
- Southwest Airlines – 2,634
- UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland – 2400
- Alameda Health Systems – 2,300
- Alta Bates Summer Medical Center Campus – 2,299
- UPS – 2,259
- BART – 3,300
- Oakland Unified School District – 2,150
- State of California – 3,170
Uber Technologies also has plans to open a large facility in the Sears building in 2018, which could make this company one of Oakland’s largest employers.
Transportation
There’s a very good reason why Oakland is referred to as the hub of the West Coast, and it’s because Oakland offers so many different types of transportation regardless of where you’re headed.
- San Francisco Bay Ferry
- Oakland International Airport
- Car Rentals
- Taxis
- Rail Trains
- Bay Area Rapid Transport
- AC Transit
- Broadway Shuttle
If you choose to do a lot of the traveling yourself, you’ll be happy to know that Oakland is filled with some of the best interstate highways. The city also offers provides great opportunities for those who enjoy biking. Whether you own your own bike or wish to rent a bike, you’ll quickly discover why Oakland is known as one of the most bike-friendly cities in America.
Weather
People often move to California for the warm weather, and Oakland definitely fits that category. Oakland is known for its mild and comfortable temperatures. The average highs in the summer are mid-70s, while the average lows are only in the 40s. Oakland’s average temperature is 59.2ºF. Around 24 inches of rain annually is the average for Oakland. More Oakland weather information.
In the past, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has also stated that this city has the least air conditioning and the least heating days of any city of this city in the nation making it an economical city in which to live.
Oakland Food
Every city seems to be known for some type of food, and Oakland is no exception. With thousands of restaurants in and surrounding Oakland, people have their choice of French, Italian, Seafood, comfort food, Sushi, Mexican, Thai, Pizzeria, British, Indian and Japanese restaurants to name just a few.
Below are some of the area’s most popular eating establishments as well as food items in which they specialize.
- Tian Jim Dumplings – Doughnut-shaped crepes
- Camino – fresh-grown food cooked over a wood-burning hearth
- Ramen Shop – California style ramen
- Boot & Shoe Service – wood-fired pizza pies
- Hopscotch – Bay area’s juiciest fried chicken
- Swan’s market – Tomales bay oysters; split-pea fritters; matcha affogato and wild shrimp tacos
- Hawker Fare – pan-Asian party food
- KronnerBurger – dry-aged beef burgers
Things to Do
Oakland offers many interesting things to do whether it’s soaking up the fresh air at Redwood Regional Park, enjoying history at the Oakland Museum of California or taking the family to Children’s Fairyland. The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and the Chabot Space & Science Center never seems to get old for many interesting reasons.
And, you just can’t forget about Chinatown, which offers some of the best restaurants, shopping and fun activities in the area. Here are a few other things to see or do in Oakland.
- Oracle Arena
- Lake Merritt
- San Francisco Bay Ferry
- Oakland Zoo
- USS Potomac
- Fox Theatre
- Jack London Square
Now that you are more familiar to with the Oakland area, the only thing left to do is pack and make the move. Packing and moving can be stressful, but here is a resource to help your move be easier and stress free. So get out to the west coast, and start your life in Oakland.
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