9 Pros and Cons of Living in Oakland Township, MI

Oakland Township is a 36-square-mile charter township in Oakland County, Michigan, directly north of Rochester and Rochester Hills.

These are the pros and cons of living in Oakland Township that buyers weigh most: land and price, wells and septic, a split school district line, parks, and how far you drive for errands.

The nine pros and cons, in short:

1. Pro: more land, lower density
2. Con: higher prices than Rochester Hills
3. Know: groundwater, shared system or private well
4. Know: septic records and pumping history
5. Know: two districts split the township
6. Pro: over 1,500 acres of parkland
7. Con: fewer shops, longer drives
8. Con: county roads and private trash haulers
9. Know: ZIP codes cross township lines

1. How much land and space do you get in Oakland Township?

Oakland Township is far less dense than Rochester Hills or Rochester. The Census Bureau counted about 553 people per square mile there in 2020, against about 2,326 in Rochester Hills. The township says it keeps many elements of a rural, wooded residential community, and that its master plan caps population density.

A good answer gets specific about the parcel: the acreage, any wetlands or woods that limit building, and the zoning district. The township's zoning ordinance sets what you can add later, such as a pole barn or a pool, so read it before you buy for the land.

Acreage on a listing is not the same as usable land. Woods, wetlands, slopes and easements can shrink the space you can actually use or build on. Ask for the survey and walk the lines before you pay for acres you cannot use.

2. Is Oakland Township more expensive than Rochester Hills?

Oakland Township costs more than Rochester and Rochester Hills. Zillow put the average home value at $621,147 as of January 31, 2026, up 3.6 percent from a year earlier. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey put the median owner home value at $588,900, against $473,200 in Rochester and $409,800 in Rochester Hills.

A good answer compares like with like. Ask the top realtors in Rochester and Oakland Township you interview for closed sales of similar acreage, age and finish inside the township. A home on several acres and a home in a subdivision price very differently, and the Zillow figure is from January.

Be careful with comps pulled from Rochester Hills to price a township home, or the reverse. Land, wells, septic and road type all change value. If the comps ignore those differences, the price advice is off.

3. Will an Oakland Township home have city water or a private well?

Oakland Township water comes from the ground. The township owns seven community water systems, including Southeast and Southwest Oakland Township, and the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner operates them, all pumping groundwater from wells. Homes outside those systems rely on their own private well, which the owner tests and maintains.

A good answer comes with a recent water test. The Oakland County Health Division advises private well owners to test for bacteria, nitrate and nitrite every year, and for arsenic every few years. Ask the seller for past results, the well's age and depth, and any treatment equipment.

No water test, or a single old one, is the red flag. Michigan's seller disclosure form asks whether the water has been tested, so get that answer in writing. Make your offer contingent on a new test from a certified lab.

4. What should you check on a septic system in Oakland Township?

Homes without a sewer connection rely on a septic system, and Michigan is the only state without a statewide septic code. In Oakland County, the Health Division permits and inspects septic systems and keeps those records for 18 years. Its well rules also require a well to sit at least 50 feet from septic fields.

A good answer starts with the county record. Ask the Oakland County Health Division for the permit file, then hire a septic inspector to check the tank and drain field. The county says a new system should generally be pumped after two to three years, so ask when it was last pumped.

A seller who cannot say when the tank was last pumped, or where the drain field is, has left you guessing. Wet spots, extra-green strips over the field and slow drains are warning signs. Do not waive the septic inspection to win.

5. Which school district serves Oakland Township, Rochester or Lake Orion?

Oakland Township is split between two school districts. Rochester Community Schools serves one part of the township and Lake Orion Community Schools serves another. Lake Orion's Oakview Middle School sits in the township on Lake George Road. The district line, not the mailing address, decides which schools an address is assigned to.

A good answer comes from the districts. Use the Rochester Community Schools address checker, which notes newer homes may not be listed. For the Lake Orion side, see the district's Oakland Township page and call enrollment with the exact address.

A listing that names a district without proof is a guess, and in a split township the guess can be wrong. Rochester Community Schools is not a Schools of Choice district, so the address decides enrollment there. Confirm it before an offer depends on it.

6. What parks and trails are in Oakland Township?

Oakland Township has a large park system for a township of about 20,600 people. Its Parks and Recreation Commission stewards over 1,500 acres, including Bear Creek Nature Park, Cranberry Lake Park, Charles Ilsley Park, Draper Twin Lake Park and Lost Lake Nature Park. The 8.9-mile Paint Creek Trail also runs through the township, past the Paint Creek Cider Mill.

A good answer names the nearest park or trail access and what it offers. The township added about 4 miles of new trails in 2025 across Marsh View Park, Fox Nature Preserve and Watershed Ridge Park. Ask how you would reach the Paint Creek Trail from the house, by bike or by car.

Many township parks are nature preserves rather than sports complexes, and that is by design. Expect trails, wetlands and seasonal prescribed burns. If you want ball fields close by, check which parks have them before you assume.

7. How far will I drive for groceries and errands in Oakland Township?

Oakland Township has few stores by design. The township says its ordinances aim to limit commercial and industrial development, so most errands mean a drive into a neighboring community. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey puts the average commute for township workers at 28.2 minutes, against 24.3 in Rochester Hills.

A good answer times the real trips: groceries, pharmacy, gas and work, at the hours you would make them. Note whether the route uses paved or gravel roads. The Delia Group works in Oakland Township, Rochester and Rochester Hills, so compare the same trips from homes in each.

A home that feels peaceful on a Sunday can feel remote on a weekday. If two adults in the household commute in different directions, test both routes. Long drives are a lifestyle choice, not a defect, but price them in.

8. Who maintains the roads and picks up the trash in Oakland Township?

Oakland Township leaves two everyday services to others. The Road Commission for Oakland County maintains all public roads in the township, and some stretches are still gravel, including parts of Silverbell and Gallagher Roads. Trash pickup is not a township service. Residents contract with a licensed hauler for their own address.

A good answer covers the road and the routine. Ask whether the road to the house is paved or gravel, how it holds up in spring thaw, and which hauler serves the street. The Road Commission and the township held a public meeting in April 2026 on possible paving of the gravel parts of Silverbell and Gallagher.

Be wary of assuming city-style services. A private road may be maintained by an association, not the county, and its costs fall on the owners. Ask for any road maintenance agreement in writing before closing.

9. Why does an Oakland Township address say Rochester?

Many Oakland Township homes carry a Rochester mailing address because ZIP codes do not follow township lines. Postal Service data lists Rochester as the default city for 48306, with Oakland Township and Rochester Hills both accepted. The 48363 ZIP code defaults to Oakland. Even the township hall uses a Rochester, MI 48306 address.

A good answer checks the tax record, not the envelope. The tax bill names the taxing unit, and the school district comes from the district's own lookup. When you search listings, filter by Oakland Township rather than by ZIP code or city name.

A ZIP code search for 48306 mixes Oakland Township homes with Rochester Hills homes, and their taxes, services and water can differ. If a listing's city field says Rochester, confirm which community the parcel is in before you compare prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Oakland Township known for?

Oakland Township is known for its rural, wooded character and its large park system. It was one of the original 25 townships formed in the Territory of Michigan in 1827, and it covers 36 square miles. The Paint Creek Cider Mill stands on the former site of the Goodison Mill, which dates to 1835.

Is Oakland, Michigan a good place to live?

It depends on what you want day to day. Oakland Township suits buyers who want land, quiet roads and parks, and who accept wells, septic and longer drives. Buyers who want sidewalks and nearby shops often look at Rochester or Rochester Hills as well.

What is the cost of living in Oakland Township, Michigan?

Housing is the biggest cost. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey put median monthly owner costs with a mortgage at $2,727 in Oakland Township. Add well and septic upkeep, a private trash hauler and more driving when you set a budget.

Is Rochester Hills considered Oakland County?

Yes. Rochester Hills, Rochester and Oakland Township are all in Oakland County, which has 63 cities, villages and townships across 907 square miles. Oakland Township sits directly north of Rochester Hills and Rochester.

Talk to The Delia Group about living in Oakland Township

The Delia Group is a Rochester, Michigan real estate team working with buyers and sellers in Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township and across Oakland County. Buyers weighing land, wells, septic and the school district line can check each one for a specific address before writing an offer. Buyers comparing Oakland Township realtors can start there.

This article is general information for Michigan home buyers, not legal or tax advice. Well, septic, zoning and road rules depend on the parcel, and county and state requirements can change. Confirm your own situation with a real estate attorney or a tax professional.