These Are The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Oakland For 2019


We used data and science to identify the neighborhoods in Oakland that are the real pits.

Sam Sparkes, RoadSnacks
December 28, 2018 - 56,283 views
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Editor’s Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out we updated this article for 2019. This is our fifth time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Oakland.
Worst Neighborhoods In Oakland
Source: Wikipedia User Basil D Soufi | CC BY-SA 3.0

Oakland’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Oakland.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Oakland. Some neighborhoods aren’t as great as others.

So the question arises, which Oakland neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?

Today, we’ll use science and data to determine which Oakland hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Oakland area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Crocker Highland ranks way above the rest.

We examined 130 of Oakland’s neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Oakland’s reputation.

Here are the 10 worst neighborhoods in Oakland according to data:

  1. North Kennedy Tract
  2. Coliseum Industrial
  3. Oakland Airport
  4. Fruitvale Station
  5. Fitchburg
  6. Eastmont
  7. Coliseum
  8. Woodland
  9. South Stonehurst
  10. Acorn-Acorn Industrial

So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Oakland for 2019? According to the most recent census data, North Kennedy Tract looks to be the worst neighborhood in Oakland.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Oakland that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.

Once you’re done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best.

Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Oakland.

For more California reading, check out:

How we determined the worst Oakland hoods in 2019

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Oakland:

  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
  • High crime (Estimated)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Oakland, California for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a “Worst Score”.

The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the worst neighborhood of Oakland.

Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Oakland to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 130 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.

1. North Kennedy Tract

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,111
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 10)
Median Home Value: $263,100 (29th worst)
Median Income: $28,664 (8th worst)
More on North Kennedy Tract:  Data

2. Coliseum Industrial

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,132
Rank Last Year: 18 (Up 16)
Median Home Value: $169,150 (7th worst)
Median Income: $55,169 (67th worst)
More on Coliseum Industrial:  Data

3. Oakland Airport

Oakland Airport Oakland, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Salv007 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 925
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Median Home Value: $75,167 (1st worst)
Median Income: $48,681 (52nd worst)
More on Oakland Airport:  Data

Oakland International Airport station is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station on the Coliseum-Oakland International Airport line in Oakland, California, United States. This station is on the system’s Automated Guideway Transit spur line, which carries passengers between Oakland International Airport and Oakland Coliseum Station.

4. Fruitvale Station

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 839
Rank Last Year: 43 (Up 39)
Median Home Value: $128,550 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $49,010 (55th worst)
More on Fruitvale Station:  Data

5. Fitchburg

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,052
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 3)
Median Home Value: $181,950 (10th worst)
Median Income: $27,462 (6th worst)
More on Fitchburg:  Data

6. Eastmont

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,020
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 7)
Median Home Value: $178,867 (9th worst)
Median Income: $29,571 (9th worst)
More on Eastmont:  Data

7. Coliseum

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,071
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Median Home Value: $210,667 (14th worst)
Median Income: $23,739 (3rd worst)
More on Coliseum:  Data

8. Woodland

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,165
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 5)
Median Home Value: $235,600 (21st worst)
Median Income: $30,444 (11th worst)
More on Woodland:  Data

9. South Stonehurst

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 771
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 7)
Median Home Value: $144,500 (4th worst)
Median Income: $38,208 (21st worst)
More on South Stonehurst:  Data

10. Acorn-Acorn Industrial

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,274
Rank Last Year: 20 (Up 10)
Median Home Value: $325,257 (47th worst)
Median Income: $60,700 (72nd worst)
More on Acorn-Acorn Industrial:  Data

The ‘hoods around Oakland that are really hoods

Well there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Oakland with North Kennedy Tract landing at the bottom of the pack.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Oakland aren’t all bad. Crocker Highland takes the cake as the best place to live in Oakland.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more California reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Oakland For 2019

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 North Kennedy Tract 1,111 $263,100 $28,664
2 Coliseum Industrial 2,132 $169,150 $55,169
3 Oakland Airport 925 $75,167 $48,681
4 Fruitvale Station 839 $128,550 $49,010
5 Fitchburg 3,052 $181,950 $27,462
6 Eastmont 3,020 $178,867 $29,571
7 Coliseum 4,071 $210,667 $23,739
8 Woodland 2,165 $235,600 $30,444
9 South Stonehurst 771 $144,500 $38,208
10 Acorn-Acorn Industrial 2,274 $325,257 $60,700
11 Brookfield Village 3,470 $210,825 $42,306
12 Hawthorne 3,744 $233,940 $32,136
13 Melrose 437 $259,800 $61,857
14 Arrowhead Marsh 285 $281,700 $46,908
15 Civic Center 1,654 $313,300 $38,523
16 South Kennedy Tract 1,893 $138,150 $63,505
17 Columbia Gardens 600 $225,500 $48,681
18 Produce And Waterfront 1,348 $177,500 $73,646
19 North Stonehurst 4,056 $184,350 $38,959
20 Hoover-Foster 4,061 $233,600 $25,849
21 Highland 3,778 $275,120 $37,110
22 Peralta-Laney 753 $314,933 $73,646
23 Northgate 1,882 $281,850 $43,984
24 Iveywood 2,986 $236,260 $48,900
25 Frick 3,469 $326,050 $46,120
26 Waverly 865 $335,900 $21,426
27 Lockwood Tevis 2,794 $220,050 $50,903
28 East Peralta 1,839 $322,667 $49,177
29 Seminary 5,800 $204,500 $26,779
30 Prescott 5,560 $350,950 $41,625
31 Webster 3,681 $220,250 $38,476
32 Oak Center 3,948 $421,617 $28,166
33 Ralph Bunche 2,623 $466,175 $37,539
34 Cox 3,396 $263,800 $45,160
35 Pill Hill 2,034 $432,900 $42,064
36 Elmhurst Park 3,144 $332,833 $42,830
37 San Pablo Gateway 2,704 $436,133 $31,740
38 Hegenberger 3,043 $163,867 $33,348
39 Foothill Square 1,432 $316,300 $55,385
40 Bancroft Business-Havenscourt 6,963 $241,371 $46,110
41 Rancho San Antonio 5,831 $338,940 $32,020
42 Lakewide 3,396 $162,220 $50,495
43 Oak Tree 3,262 $312,600 $36,584
44 Fremont 5,889 $207,800 $39,414
45 Tuxedo 2,659 $348,950 $46,400
46 Downtown 4,124 $360,280 $30,079
47 Castlemont 5,820 $243,650 $42,814
48 Chinatown 3,425 $429,833 $21,261
49 Reservoir Hill-Meadow Brook 5,292 $329,143 $39,638
50 Saint Elizabeth 5,809 $248,975 $38,008
51 Mcclymonds 2,905 $389,333 $41,590
52 Las Palmas 2,735 $276,750 $50,164
53 Merritt 3,208 $334,125 $40,135
54 South Prescott 424 $572,400 $65,625
55 Jefferson 3,814 $292,475 $50,640
56 Clawson 2,579 $441,400 $70,344
57 Toler Heights 2,864 $402,400 $48,208
58 Durant Manor 3,093 $263,900 $65,014
59 Dimond 1,681 $379,100 $57,704
60 Arroyo Viejo 5,738 $253,060 $49,866
61 Mosswood 2,434 $549,150 $70,251
62 Patten 2,830 $373,033 $40,999
63 Fairfax 2,070 $407,050 $47,497
64 Peralta-Hacienda 2,486 $348,300 $47,859
65 Lynn-Highland Park 3,096 $451,950 $47,757
66 Fairfax Business-Wentworth-Holland 2,338 $293,750 $44,870
67 Sobrante Park 3,500 $241,000 $47,978
68 Highland Terrace 4,662 $309,120 $38,727
69 Eastmont Hills 4,355 $409,375 $82,510
70 Skyline-Hillcrest Estates 921 $667,400 $123,204
71 Oakland Ave-Harrison St 5,568 $311,460 $54,560
72 Clinton 9,195 $360,144 $37,709
73 Laurel 1,608 $384,600 $52,193
74 Longfellow 5,884 $346,333 $54,054
75 Sheffield Village 99 $594,000 $90,125
76 Bartlett 1,238 $347,050 $56,976
77 Upper Peralta Creek-Bartlett 3,256 $371,600 $48,575
78 Millsmont 4,652 $344,850 $62,267
79 Santa Fe 3,431 $623,820 $47,396
80 Old City-Produce And Waterfront 2,153 $448,040 $76,119
81 Allendale 4,647 $403,700 $45,974
82 Paradise Park 2,017 $496,967 $60,938
83 Golden Gate 1,690 $515,275 $65,466
84 School 2,185 $411,750 $55,693
85 Golf Links 1,482 $447,750 $93,839
86 Ivy Hill 3,548 $410,050 $46,775
87 Upper Dimond 3,378 $594,400 $84,149
88 Sausal Creek 3,807 $390,920 $50,204
89 Sequoyah 4,320 $512,200 $89,887
90 Leona Heights 930 $487,300 $87,500
91 Harrington 3,984 $293,267 $51,479
92 Lake Merritt 613 $441,200 $82,630
93 Upper Laurel 5,205 $536,125 $72,640
94 Mountain View Cemetery 973 $967,200 $142,303
95 Temescal 4,262 $600,733 $83,410
96 Shafter 3,472 $780,767 $66,422
97 Rockridge 3,648 $1,010,625 $135,013
98 Lincoln Highlands 2,445 $566,840 $103,683
99 Crestmont 1,062 $699,300 $153,438
100 Maxwell Park 6,327 $455,033 $84,936
101 Piedmont Avenue 7,331 $515,600 $83,140
102 Bushrod 6,888 $612,055 $61,782
103 Gaskill 1,856 $475,550 $65,612
104 Lakeshore 3,265 $710,875 $98,515
105 Bella Vista 1,492 $390,550 $74,890
106 Grand Lake 5,102 $285,940 $70,607
107 Caballo Hills 2,543 $607,367 $111,303
108 Chabot Park 4,058 $608,700 $123,481
109 Hiller Highlands 447 $966,450 $161,756
110 Adams Point 9,378 $399,700 $72,591
111 Claremont 1,097 $1,310,967 $168,916
112 Oakmore 4,022 $775,900 $108,764
113 Montclair Business 229 $805,700 $150,230
114 Forestland 1,954 $795,200 $137,947
115 Joaquin Miller Park 681 $916,900 $165,444
116 Redwood Heights 5,238 $630,583 $111,928
117 Cleveland Heights 7,587 $552,700 $66,969
118 Glen Highlands 1,473 $820,400 $148,452
119 Glenview 5,284 $660,467 $104,749
120 Woodminster 1,530 $762,550 $170,156
121 Shepherd Canyon 1,863 $804,000 $156,631
122 Piedmont Pines 2,892 $847,925 $162,407
123 Merriwood 3,273 $842,920 $147,649
124 Panoramic Hill 1,751 $1,074,100 $177,417
125 Montclair 4,011 $839,425 $154,178
126 Trestle Glen 3,819 $927,900 $173,536
127 Fairview Park 3,894 $826,367 $100,433
128 Upper Rockridge 5,996 $1,233,143 $182,758
129 Piedmont 10,992 $1,604,023 $204,144
130 Crocker Highland 2,280 $1,132,467 $186,637

 Rankings, Worst