Appendix B:
Demographics

This section provides an overview of recent trends in population and housing within the City of Oakwood, as well as a current snapshot of key demographics in Oakwood, neighboring communities, and the greater Dayton region.

An understanding of demographics and the composition of the local population provides an important basis for Oakwood’s new Comprehensive Plan. Estimates for 2003 and forecasts for 2008 and 2030 are also included in this overview.

The demographic overview includes an assessment of: a) population and household characteristics; b) racial and ethnic composition; c) housing unit characteristics; and d) income and employment statistics.

In order to analyze trends, 1980, 1990 and 2000 data have been included in this overview. This analysis is based on data gathered from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), and Claritas, Inc., an independent demographic service.

To make the demographic characteristics more meaningful, Oakwood is compared with neighboring communities and the surrounding region. The City of Oakwood is located in Montgomery County, Ohio, within the Dayton-Springfield Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Data from that MSA, Montgomery County, and the nearby communities of Centerville and Kettering are utilized in this analysis.

In general, Oakwood is an affluent community experiencing minor population change. The population is well-educated and family-oriented. The housing stock is older, but also highly desirable. Most of the residents of Oakwood are long-term residents. While population, social, and housing characteristics have remained fairly stable over the last 20 years, there are some changes occurring in Oakwood that have implications for long-range planning.

The statistical tables used in this overview are presented at the conclusion of this section. They include:

• Table 5: Population and Households, 1980-2000
• Table 6: Race/Ethnicity, 1980-2000
• Table 7: Housing Profile, 1980-2000
• Table 8: Income and Employment, 2000
• Table 9: Demographic Comparisons, 2000

Population

• Oakwood’s official population count in 2000 was 9215 persons. The population of Oakwood decreased slightly over the last 20 years. From 1980-2000, the population decreased by 157 citizens, a 1.6% decrease. However, it should also be noted that Oakwood’s population experienced an increase of approximately 2.8 percent over the ten-year period of 1990-2000.
• In 2000, the population of the Dayton-Springfield MSA was 950,558 persons. The 2000 Census indicates that the MSA’s population decreased by approximately 0.1% between 1990 and 2000. During this same 10 year period, the City of Kettering lost 5.1% of its population, while the City of Centerville saw a 9.2% increase in population.