149 movers in Oakland
AMS Bekins
"Avoid this moving company. They lost one of our boxes which happened to have very valuable items. The company takes no responsibility and has built a system to place all the blame on the customer. Upon digging further into their process, I learned..."
XO Moving System
"I signed contract with A+ company based on BBB, they told me they are the best in marked ,etc, they have handed off moving my stuff to XOMoving Company based in CA with out my authorization, it's been 2 months delay , somebody called me twice and ..."
West Coast Moving Company
"This Company is horrible and dishonest. Third and last quote was given to me after everything was loaded in the truck en route to Fl.. I was asked to tip workers $300. My furniture arrived late and the boxes were in bad conditions and opened. My f..."
Gold Star Van Lines
"This moving company is awful. At first you call and everything is delightful and egar to help. The estimate was far below what I actually paid. When the movers show up, do NOT sign anything before you read EVERY word! They packed my vacuum in a a ..."
Wrapid-Up Moving
"Hired [NAME EDIT] and his "company", Wrapid Up Moving and they destroyed so many of my belongings and lied to my face about it. They didn't bring enough packing materials and Angel took long breaks to "get materials" but he was just getting fast f..."
Birch Circle Moving
"I used Birch Circle Movers to move over six years ago. At that time, the owner was professional and his crew was excellent. I paid someone from his team to pack my kitchen and moved the next day. Unfortunately, my move on October 14th didn't nearl..."
Fixprice Moving
"I found this moving company on the Internet and despite some bad reviews I thought it is reasonable to give them a chance. I had to move my stuff from west to east coast so it was a big deal for me. They gave me a very reasonable quote including f..."
Bulky Movers LLC
"TLDR; Bulky Movers LLC, grossly underestimated the job, was not prepared, damaged our stuff and ghosted us when trying to get them to file insurance claims Learn from us, do not use Bulky Movers LLC if you care about your stuff. We moved with the..."
Golden State Van Lines
"Wanted to share my experience about my move with Golden state Van lines. they have quoted me the best price and I went a head with them as you were refereed by my friend(who was referred by his friend). you pick-up was the good. you guys came o..."
Avl Moving Systems
"Never,..ever,..even consider using this company in Santa Clarita. AVL Moving Systems. The previous negative reviews are indeed correct. Other than the nice guy in sales, (but who still mislead me into thinking that things were far more inclusive ..."
Mont-Rose Moving Systems Inc.
"I hired Mont-Rose/Mayflower to move me in state. For the most part the move went great. The problem came when I had damaged items and filed a claim. Everything was taken care of with no issues except my computer. It had been dropped on its corner ..."
Best Moving Van Lines
"This company was subcontracted by my daughter-in-law's primary movers, Allegiance Van Lines, to move her furniture and boxes from LA to Chicago. Not only did the furniture arrive more than 10 days late, they also lost her new $2,800 Casper Wave ma..."
What to know when moving to Oakland, CA
TL;DR: Oakland at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A highly educated ZIP where 24% hold a bachelor's degree and 65.5% are renters.
- The Major Draw:
- Median household income is $66,651, providing a solid economic backdrop.
- The Reality Check:
- Poverty rate is 17.5%, indicating some economic challenges.
- Commute:
- 12.7% of residents use public transit for commuting.
- Top Tip:
- Budget for $1,651 in rent, which is the median gross rent in the area.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Oakland's population of 52,289 reflects a community where renters dominate, making up 65.5% of households. The median gross rent stands at $1,651, which can be a significant factor for those looking to move. With a median household income of $66,651, the area presents a mix of affordability and economic diversity. However, the poverty rate of 17.5% suggests that while there are opportunities, there are also some residents facing financial challenges.
Probably not your spot if you are looking for a low poverty rate or a majority homeowner environment.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- Median gross rent is $1,651, which means budgeting around this amount is wise.
- The median owner-occupied home value is $703,100, indicating a relatively high cost for homeownership.
- 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree, reflecting the education level in the area.
- The poverty rate of 17.5% suggests economic challenges for some residents.
- 12.7% of the population commutes via public transit.
- 65.5% of households are renters, showing a significant rental market.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Crime & Safety: What the Numbers Say
In California, the state-level crime statistics show a mixed picture. The violent crime rate is 415.5 per 100,000 residents, which is 27.7% higher than the national rate. However, the property crime rate is 1,764 per 100,000, which is 14% higher than the national average. Notably, both rates have seen a decrease in recent years, with violent crime down 17.4% and property crime down 26.1% since 2022.
- Violent crime: 415.5 per 100k vs national 325.3 per 100k, down 17.4% since 2022.
- Property crime: 1,764 per 100k vs national 1,546.9 per 100k, down 26.1% since 2022.
- Notable trend: Homicide rate down 44.9% since 2022, currently at 3.2 per 100k.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (state-level summarized data for California).
Schools & Higher Ed
Oakland has access to a variety of educational institutions. There are 46 postsecondary institutions in the area, with 44 providing College Scorecard data. Notable nearby options include:
- Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
- Laney College
- Samuel Merritt University
- Merritt College
- International College of Cosmetology
Source: NCES Postsecondary School Locations, U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
Alameda County receives about 18.6 inches of precipitation annually, with 63 rainy days. Winters bring the most rain, totaling 12.5 inches, while summers are quite dry with only 0.1 inches. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy several nearby parks, including:
- Tilden Regional Park - 4.8 stars from 3,937 reviews
- Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park - 4.8 stars from 3,485 reviews
- Oakland Museum of California - 4.7 stars from 3,624 reviews
- USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum - 4.8 stars from 3,196 reviews
Source: NOAA Climate Data Online, Google Places.
Jobs & the Local Economy
In Alameda County, the unemployment rate stands at 4.4% as of December 2025. There are about 829,527 employed individuals out of a labor force of 867,681, indicating a relatively healthy job market.
- Unemployment rate: 4.4% as of December 2025.
- Employed: 829,527 individuals.
- Labor force: 867,681 individuals.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
