Demographics

Historical populations Census Pop. %± 1820 330 — 1830 4,911 1,388.2% 1840 23,646 381.5% 1850 31,270 32.2% 1860 38,261 22.4% 1870 40,867 6.8% 1880 41,537 1.6% 1890 41,245 −0.7% 1900 44,792 8.6% 1910 49,576 10.7% 1920 90,050 81.6% 1930 211,251 134.6% 1940 254,068 20.3% 1950 396,001 55.9% 1960 690,259 74.3% 1970 907,871 31.5% 1980 1,011,793 11.4% 1990 1,083,592 7.1% 2000 1,194,156 10.2% 2010 1,202,362 0.7% Est. 2012 1,220,657 1.5% U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people and 315,175 families residing in the county. In 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 75.1% White, 13.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.6% Asian American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 3.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 527,255 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile (218/km²).

Regarding ancestry, in 2000 14.4% of the population were ethnically German, 9.0% Irish, 8.5% English, 8.5% Polish, 5.7% Italian and 5.5% American, according to Census 2000. 87.4% spoke only English at home; 2.0% spoke Spanish, 1.3% Syriac (Neo Aramaic) and 1.0% Arabic. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile (528/km²). There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile (218/km²).

The 2000 census showed two Native American tribes with more than 1,000 members in Oakland County. There were 2,095 Cherokee and 1,458 Chippewa.

The Jewish community of metropolitan Detroit, with a population of 72,000, is the 21st largest Jewish community in the nation. This community is concentrated in Oakland County, especially in West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Troy and Huntington Woods.

There were 471,115 households, of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09.

Among Asian Americans, eight ethnic groups had more than 1,000 members in the county in 2000. The most numerous were those of Asian Indian descent, with 20,705. Next were those of Chinese heritage, numbering 10,018. Next were those of Japanese (5,589), Filipino (5,450) Korean (5,351), Vietnamese (1,687), Pakistani (1,458) and Hmong (1,210) ancestry.

The county's population was spread out in terms of age, with 25.20% of people under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $61,907, and the median income for a family was $75,540 (these figures had risen to $62,308 and $79,589 respectively as of a 2009 estimate). Males had a median income of $55,833 versus $35,890 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,534. About 3.80% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.