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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 124 of Oakland's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Oakland's reputation.
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Oakland for 2022? 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:

The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Oakland For 2022
Population: 1,111
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $263,100 (28th worst)
Median Income: $28,664 (7th worst)
More on North Kennedy Tract: Data
Population: 2,132
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $169,150 (7th worst)
Median Income: $55,169 (65th worst)
More on Coliseum Industrial: Data
Population: 925
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $75,167 (worst)
Median Income: $48,681 (50th worst)
More on Oakland Airport: Data

Population: 3,052
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $181,950 (10th worst)
Median Income: $27,462 (5th worst)
More on Fitchburg: Data
Population: 839
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $128,550 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $49,010 (53rd worst)
More on Fruitvale Station: Data
Population: 4,071
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $210,667 (14th worst)
Median Income: $23,739 (2nd worst)
More on Coliseum: Data
Population: 3,020
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $178,867 (9th worst)
Median Income: $29,571 (8th worst)
More on Eastmont: Data
Population: 2,165
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $235,600 (2worst)
Median Income: $30,444 (10th worst)
More on Woodland: Data
Population: 771
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $144,500 (4th worst)
Median Income: $38,208 (20th worst)
More on South Stonehurst: Data
Population: 2,274
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $325,257 (46th worst)
Median Income: $60,700 (70th worst)
More on Acorn-Acorn Industrial: Data
Methodology: How we determined the worst Oakland neighborhoods in 2022
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 124 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.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Oakland
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:
Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Oakland For 2022?
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 |
Fitchburg |
3,052 |
$181,950 |
$27,462 |
5 |
Fruitvale Station |
839 |
$128,550 |
$49,010 |
6 |
Coliseum |
4,071 |
$210,667 |
$23,739 |
7 |
Eastmont |
3,020 |
$178,867 |
$29,571 |
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 |
South Kennedy Tract |
1,893 |
$138,150 |
$63,505 |
14 |
Melrose |
437 |
$259,800 |
$61,857 |
15 |
Civic Center |
1,654 |
$313,300 |
$38,523 |
16 |
Arrowhead Marsh |
285 |
$281,700 |
$46,908 |
17 |
Columbia Gardens |
600 |
$225,500 |
$48,681 |
18 |
North Stonehurst |
4,056 |
$184,350 |
$38,959 |
19 |
Produce And Waterfront |
1,348 |
$177,500 |
$73,646 |
20 |
Hoover-Foster |
4,061 |
$233,600 |
$25,849 |
21 |
Highland |
3,778 |
$275,120 |
$37,110 |
22 |
Frick |
3,469 |
$326,050 |
$46,120 |
23 |
Iveywood |
2,986 |
$236,260 |
$48,900 |
24 |
Northgate |
1,882 |
$281,850 |
$43,984 |
25 |
Peralta-Laney |
753 |
$314,933 |
$73,646 |
26 |
Lockwood Tevis |
2,794 |
$220,050 |
$50,903 |
27 |
Seminary |
5,800 |
$204,500 |
$26,779 |
28 |
East Peralta |
1,839 |
$322,667 |
$49,177 |
29 |
Prescott |
5,560 |
$350,950 |
$41,625 |
30 |
Webster |
3,681 |
$220,250 |
$38,476 |
31 |
Oak Center |
3,948 |
$421,617 |
$28,166 |
32 |
Ralph Bunche |
2,623 |
$466,175 |
$37,539 |
33 |
Cox |
3,396 |
$263,800 |
$45,160 |
34 |
Pill Hill |
2,034 |
$432,900 |
$42,064 |
35 |
Elmhurst Park |
3,144 |
$332,833 |
$42,830 |
36 |
San Pablo Gateway |
2,704 |
$436,133 |
$31,740 |
37 |
Hegenberger |
3,043 |
$163,867 |
$33,348 |
38 |
Foothill Square |
1,432 |
$316,300 |
$55,385 |
39 |
Bancroft Business-Havenscourt |
6,963 |
$241,371 |
$46,110 |
40 |
Rancho San Antonio |
5,831 |
$338,940 |
$32,020 |
41 |
Lakewide |
3,396 |
$162,220 |
$50,495 |
42 |
Tuxedo |
2,659 |
$348,950 |
$46,400 |
43 |
Oak Tree |
3,262 |
$312,600 |
$36,584 |
44 |
Fremont |
5,889 |
$207,800 |
$39,414 |
45 |
Downtown |
4,124 |
$360,280 |
$30,079 |
46 |
Chinatown |
3,425 |
$429,833 |
$21,261 |
47 |
Reservoir Hill-Meadow Brook |
5,292 |
$329,143 |
$39,638 |
48 |
South Prescott |
424 |
$572,400 |
$65,625 |
49 |
Saint Elizabeth |
5,809 |
$248,975 |
$38,008 |
50 |
Las Palmas |
2,735 |
$276,750 |
$50,164 |
51 |
Mcclymonds |
2,905 |
$389,333 |
$41,590 |
52 |
Clawson |
2,579 |
$441,400 |
$70,344 |
53 |
Merritt |
3,208 |
$334,125 |
$40,135 |
54 |
Jefferson |
3,814 |
$292,475 |
$50,640 |
55 |
Toler Heights |
2,864 |
$402,400 |
$48,208 |
56 |
Durant Manor |
3,093 |
$263,900 |
$65,014 |
57 |
Arroyo Viejo |
5,738 |
$253,060 |
$49,866 |
58 |
Dimond |
1,681 |
$379,100 |
$57,704 |
59 |
Fairfax |
2,070 |
$407,050 |
$47,497 |
60 |
Patten |
2,830 |
$373,033 |
$40,999 |
61 |
Peralta-Hacienda |
2,486 |
$348,300 |
$47,859 |
62 |
Lynn-Highland Park |
3,096 |
$451,950 |
$47,757 |
63 |
Mosswood |
2,434 |
$549,150 |
$70,251 |
64 |
Fairfax Business-Wentworth-Holland |
2,338 |
$293,750 |
$44,870 |
65 |
Sobrante Park |
3,500 |
$241,000 |
$47,978 |
66 |
Highland Terrace |
4,662 |
$309,120 |
$38,727 |
67 |
Eastmont Hills |
4,355 |
$409,375 |
$82,510 |
68 |
Clinton |
9,195 |
$360,144 |
$37,709 |
69 |
Oakland Ave-Harrison St |
5,568 |
$311,460 |
$54,560 |
70 |
Longfellow |
5,884 |
$346,333 |
$54,054 |
71 |
Laurel |
1,608 |
$384,600 |
$52,193 |
72 |
Bartlett |
1,238 |
$347,050 |
$56,976 |
73 |
Old City-Produce And Waterfront |
2,153 |
$448,040 |
$76,119 |
74 |
Upper Peralta Creek-Bartlett |
3,256 |
$371,600 |
$48,575 |
75 |
Santa Fe |
3,431 |
$623,820 |
$47,396 |
76 |
Millsmont |
4,652 |
$344,850 |
$62,267 |
77 |
Allendale |
4,647 |
$403,700 |
$45,974 |
78 |
Paradise Park |
2,017 |
$496,967 |
$60,938 |
79 |
Golden Gate |
1,690 |
$515,275 |
$65,466 |
80 |
School |
2,185 |
$411,750 |
$55,693 |
81 |
Ivy Hill |
3,548 |
$410,050 |
$46,775 |
82 |
Golf Links |
1,482 |
$447,750 |
$93,839 |
83 |
Upper Dimond |
3,378 |
$594,400 |
$84,149 |
84 |
Sausal Creek |
3,807 |
$390,920 |
$50,204 |
85 |
Leona Heights |
930 |
$487,300 |
$87,500 |
86 |
Sequoyah |
4,320 |
$512,200 |
$89,887 |
87 |
Harrington |
3,984 |
$293,267 |
$51,479 |
88 |
Temescal |
4,262 |
$600,733 |
$83,410 |
89 |
Upper Laurel |
5,205 |
$536,125 |
$72,640 |
90 |
Mountain View Cemetery |
973 |
$967,200 |
$142,303 |
91 |
Rockridge |
3,648 |
$1,010,625 |
$135,013 |
92 |
Shafter |
3,472 |
$780,767 |
$66,422 |
93 |
Crestmont |
1,062 |
$699,300 |
$153,438 |
94 |
Lincoln Highlands |
2,445 |
$566,840 |
$103,683 |
95 |
Maxwell Park |
6,327 |
$455,033 |
$84,936 |
96 |
Bushrod |
6,888 |
$612,055 |
$61,782 |
97 |
Piedmont Avenue |
7,331 |
$515,600 |
$83,140 |
98 |
Gaskill |
1,856 |
$475,550 |
$65,612 |
99 |
Lakeshore |
3,265 |
$710,875 |
$98,515 |
100 |
Grand Lake |
5,102 |
$285,940 |
$70,607 |
101 |
Bella Vista |
1,492 |
$390,550 |
$74,890 |
102 |
Caballo Hills |
2,543 |
$607,367 |
$111,303 |
103 |
Chabot Park |
4,058 |
$608,700 |
$123,481 |
104 |
Hiller Highlands |
447 |
$966,450 |
$161,756 |
105 |
Claremont |
1,097 |
$1,310,967 |
$168,916 |
106 |
Oakmore |
4,022 |
$775,900 |
$108,764 |
107 |
Montclair Business |
229 |
$805,700 |
$150,230 |
108 |
Adams Point |
9,378 |
$399,700 |
$72,591 |
109 |
Joaquin Miller Park |
681 |
$916,900 |
$165,444 |
110 |
Redwood Heights |
5,238 |
$630,583 |
$111,928 |
111 |
Glen Highlands |
1,473 |
$820,400 |
$148,452 |
112 |
Cleveland Heights |
7,587 |
$552,700 |
$66,969 |
113 |
Woodminster |
1,530 |
$762,550 |
$170,156 |
114 |
Glenview |
5,284 |
$660,467 |
$104,749 |
115 |
Shepherd Canyon |
1,863 |
$804,000 |
$156,631 |
116 |
Piedmont Pines |
2,892 |
$847,925 |
$162,407 |
117 |
Panoramic Hill |
1,751 |
$1,074,100 |
$177,417 |
118 |
Merriwood |
3,273 |
$842,920 |
$147,649 |
119 |
Montclair |
4,011 |
$839,425 |
$154,178 |
120 |
Trestle Glen |
3,819 |
$927,900 |
$173,536 |
121 |
Fairview Park |
3,894 |
$826,367 |
$100,433 |
122 |
Upper Rockridge |
5,996 |
$1,233,143 |
$182,758 |
123 |
Piedmont |
10,992 |
$1,604,023 |
$204,144 |
124 |
Crocker Highland |
2,280 |
$1,132,467 |
$186,637 |
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 2022. This is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Oakland.
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