Oakland's Middle Class Areas? (Vista, San Leandro: middle-class, real estate, apartment)

[18Montclair]

We've been asked this question many times here on C-D. Got me thinking....

My own observation is that most of the hoods below are fairly reasonable as far as price and very good candidates to be called "middle class"-at least as far as Oakland goes.

Here are the neighborhoods in Oakland with an Average Household Income between $55,000-$75,000 according to Onboard LLC.

Which of these areas would you consider Middle Class? Which wouldnt you consider Middle Class? Any other neighborhoods I forgot?


Maxwell Park
Average Household Income: $74,057
Pop. Density: 9,757 per sq mile


Upper Dimond
Average Household Income: $72,309
Pop. Density: 10,355 per sq mile


Harrington
Average Household Income: $71,553
Pop. Density: 20,699 per sq mile


Eastmont Hills
Average Household Income: $70,694
Pop. Density: 6,803 per sq mile


Civic Center(the area around the Alameda Co Admin Bldg)
Average Household Income: $67,427
Pop. Density: 11,004 per sq mile


Cleveland Heights
Average Household Income $67,208
Pop. Density: 13,063 per sq mile


Piedmont Avenue
Average Household Income: $65,250
Pop. Density: 11,729 per sq mile


Laurel
Average Household Income: $64,857
Pop Density: 11,184 per sq mile


Bella Vista
Average Household Income: $63,336
Pop Density: 16,465 per sq mile


Grand Lake
Average Household Income: $61,717
Pop Density: 16,724 per sq mile


Allendale
Average Household Income: $61,223
Pop. Density: 17,576 per sq mile


Bushrod
Average Household Income: $60,835
Pop. Density: 10,807 per sq. mile


Toler Heights
Average Household Income: $59,075
Pop. Density: 6,306 per sq mile


South Prescott
Average Household Income: $58,893
Pop. Density: 3,343 per sq mile


North & South Stonehurst
Average Household Income: $58,083
Pop. Density: 11,372 per sq mile


Fitchburg
Average Household Income: $57,664
Pop. Density: 8,658 per sq mile


Adams Point
Average Household Income: $57,621
Pop. Density: 26,515 per sq mile


Durant Manor
Average Family Income: $56,306
Pop. Density: 6,686 per sq mile


Could some of these be other candidates?

Neighborhoods with an Average HH Income $50,000-$54,9999
Sausal Creek $54,756
Iveywood $54,198
Paradise Park $54,071
Oak Tree $53,121
Sobrante Park $53,119
East Peralta $52,997
Fairfax $52,133
Dimond/ School $51,729
Lynn/ Highland Park $51,639
Santa Fe $51,415
Merritt $51,318
Clawson $51,293
Millsmont $50,999
Ivy Hill $50,099

[lmk1707]

I'm not familiar enough with lots of areas to say for sure, but I'd say the following are solidly middle class:

Piedmont Ave.
Grand Lake (middle class singles mostly)
Cleveland Heights
Upper Dimond
Laurel
Bushrod (middle/working class)
Adam's Point (lots of singles here too)

From my real estate searching, Eastmont Hills seems middle-class also.

I'd also throw Glenview, Trestle Glen, Montclair, Piedmont Pines, and Rockridge into the mix - they're well-off, but still middle (Glenview)/upper-middle (Montclair) - well-off but not wealthy.

Household income is a tricky measure; in high-density condo and apartment areas the per capita and household income are the same, skewing the numbers downward. Middle class is also difficult to define, especially where the line blurs between working/middle and middle/upper.

[Tallysmom]

I live in the Stonehurst area -- and we live in a poorer neighborhood. That's not middle class here. We have a lot of unemployment, homeless and druggies. And the Stonehursts aren't that big -- so it's not like the west side is better than the east side -- it's all the same.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by lmk1707

I'd also throw Glenview, Trestle Glen, Montclair, Piedmont Pines, and Rockridge into the mix - they're well-off, but still middle (Glenview)/upper-middle (Montclair) - well-off but not wealthy.

Montclair is definitely not middle class imo. Its residents tend to not be flashy but are still rather well off. The Average HH Income in Montclair is identical to Pacific Heights.

Glenview is a very good candidate-albeit Upper middle class. I grew up there, it seemed more middle class when I was a kid-now it seems to have gone more upscale.

Trestle Glen and Piedmont Pines are a bit wealthier...but I can see where you are coming from.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I live in the Stonehurst area -- and we live in a poorer neighborhood. That's not middle class here. We have a lot of unemployment, homeless and druggies. And the Stonehursts aren't that big -- so it's not like the west side is better than the east side -- it's all the same.

I wondered why the city designates them as 2 separate neighborhoods?

Anyway, that is an interesting area because I see what ur saying about drugs and unemployment, but it still comes across as a neighborhood for families when you drive through it.

I wonder what it was like way back when.

[ssmaster]

this type of analysis of class based on household income is very difficult because of housing stock and household size

for example if $55,000 is the cut off for middle class household income then a single person making $54,000 in a adams point apartment is considered below middle class while a family of 4 making $57000 in stonhurst is middle class?
the adams point single is better off fiscally

[Mr. Fantastic]

Not to mention the average Oakland citizen's income is only $35,000 a year. $55,000 would not be considered "middle class" in Oakland.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

I wondered why the city designates them as 2 separate neighborhoods?

Anyway, that is an interesting area because I see what ur saying about drugs and unemployment, but it still comes across as a neighborhood for families when you drive through it.

I wonder what it was like way back when.

I knew an older gentleman who grew up in North Stonehurst. These places were built on old orchards starting in the 20's. (My house was built in 1924.) The old names of the streets were (and some still are) fruits. Plum, Pippin, Apricot, Pearmain, Apple, Prune, Russett...

And this area was also border disputed. It switched from San Leandro to Oakland a few times. In San Leandro the orchards were still active.

Then came WW2. Chevy (or Chrysler) built a plant at the corner of Durant and E 14th. It's now Durant Square.

Workers were needed and it worked 24/7. The orchards were torn out and small duplexes were built fast in San Leandro -- that's much of the housing you see in the San Leandro area right next to North Stonehurst. Their street names are Pershing, Bristol, Bowling Green -- up to Broadmoor.

So these houses always have been very blue collar. (Nothing wrong with that -- so are we) And the blue collar jobs have disappeared. Factories are gone.

So yes -- it's still a family oriented area on one hand, but the drugs and stuff have done a job on it. It's hard to see, too. I only know this from a little homeless woman who befriended me. She pointed out things I saw but didn't understand what they were....

And we have a large number of older women living with drug addicted kids that are in and out of prison. A lot of the petty crime is done by them.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I knew an older gentleman who grew up in North Stonehurst. These places were built on old orchards starting in the 20's. (My house was built in 1924.) The old names of the streets were (and some still are) fruits. Plum, Pippin, Apricot, Pearmain, Apple, Prune, Russett...

And this area was also border disputed. It switched from San Leandro to Oakland a few times. In San Leandro the orchards were still active.

Then came WW2. Chevy (or Chrysler) built a plant at the corner of Durant and E 14th. It's now Durant Square.

Workers were needed and it worked 24/7. The orchards were torn out and small duplexes were built fast in San Leandro -- that's much of the housing you see in the San Leandro area right next to North Stonehurst. Their street names are Pershing, Bristol, Bowling Green -- up to Broadmoor.

So these houses always have been very blue collar. (Nothing wrong with that -- so are we) And the blue collar jobs have disappeared. Factories are gone.

So yes -- it's still a family oriented area on one hand, but the drugs and stuff have done a job on it. It's hard to see, too. I only know this from a little homeless woman who befriended me. She pointed out things I saw but didn't understand what they were....

And we have a large number of older women living with drug addicted kids that are in and out of prison. A lot of the petty crime is done by them.

Interesting...what a perfect example of what happens when manufacturing jobs leave the country.

+1

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by ssmaster

this type of analysis of class based on household income is very difficult because of housing stock and household size

for example if $55,000 is the cut off for middle class household income then a single person making $54,000 in a adams point apartment is considered below middle class while a family of 4 making $57000 in stonhurst is middle class?

the adams point single is better off fiscally

Interesting perspective. I just picked arbitrary amounts.

According to the US Census Bureau
2008 American Factfinder Community Survey
Median Household Income for Oakland: $48,699
Median Family Income for Oakland: $59,411

Oakland
Total Households: 147,683
Households Earning Less than $25,000: 43,201...29.2%
Households Earning $25,000-$49,999: 34,349...23.2%

Households Earning $50,000-$74,999: 23,246...15.7%
Households Earning $75,000-$99,999: 14,335...9.7%

Households Earning $100,000-$199,999: 23,567...15.9%
Households Earning $200,000+: 8,985...6.0%

Oakland
Total Families: 73,307
Families Earning Less than $25,000: 18,123...24.7%
Familes Earning $25,000-$49,999: 18,173...25.5%

Families Earning $50,000-$74,999: 9,970...13.6%
Families Earning $75,000-$99,999: 9,236...12.5%

Families Earning $100,000-$199,999: 14,379...19.6%
Familes Earning $200,000+: 6,542...8.9%