Moving to Oakdale, MN: Your Local Relocation Guide

J Justin Mueller Co-Founder of Win-Win Moving Solutions · August 6, 2026

If you’re moving to Oakdale, MN, you’re joining one of the fastest-growing suburbs on the east side of the Twin Cities. Washington County data puts Oakdale’s 2026 population at roughly 31,500 residents, up more than 11% since the last census. At Win-Win Moving Solutions, we’ve helped a growing number of families relocate into Oakdale homes over the past year, and we put together this guide to help you plan your move — from picking a neighborhood to settling in after the truck pulls away.

Whether you’re relocating for a new job, downsizing, or just looking for more space than you can find closer to St. Paul, Oakdale has become one of the go-to answers for people who want suburban breathing room without a long commute. This guide walks through what to expect before your moving truck shows up.

Why People Are Moving to Oakdale, MN

Oakdale sits in Washington County right where I-694, I-94, and Highway 5 come together, which makes it one of the easier commutes in the eastern metro. The median home value runs around $288,700, giving buyers more space for their money than many Minneapolis-adjacent suburbs.

The city blends quiet residential streets with quick access to shopping, dining, and the Tanger Outlets retail corridor. It’s also sandwiched between two other popular destinations for new residents — Woodbury to the south and White Bear Lake to the north — so you get suburban space without giving up convenience.

We also hear from clients that Oakdale’s mix of housing stock is a draw. Unlike some newer developments where every block looks the same, Oakdale has decades-old neighborhoods next to newer construction, so buyers at different price points and life stages tend to find something that fits. Renters have options too, with a handful of apartment and townhome communities clustered near the retail corridor along Hadley Avenue.

Oakdale’s Neighborhoods and Housing Market

Oakdale isn’t one uniform subdivision — the city has a few distinct pockets worth knowing before you start house hunting.

• North Oakdale, near North St. Paul, tends to have older, established homes with mature trees and larger lots.
• South Oakdale, closer to I-94, has seen more new construction and townhome development over the last decade.
• Areas near Tanners Lake and Beaver Lake offer walkable access to parks and water, popular with families and retirees alike.
• The Hadley Avenue corridor is close to shopping and restaurants, good for buyers who want errands within a five-minute drive.

Homes here move quickly in spring and summer, so if you’re relocating for a job start date, it’s worth getting pre-approved and working with a local agent before you start touring.

If you’re weighing Oakdale against a nearby suburb, it’s worth noting the trade-offs. Woodbury tends to have more new construction and a higher price point, while White Bear Lake leans toward lake living at a premium. Oakdale often lands in the middle — established infrastructure, a shorter commute into St. Paul, and pricing that’s more forgiving for first-time buyers or growing families.

Schools and Things to Do After Your Move

Oakdale sits entirely within Independent School District 622 (North St. Paul–Maplewood–Oakdale). Tartan Senior High School serves the southern half of the city, while northern residents attend North High School in North St. Paul.

Once you’re unpacked, there’s plenty close by to explore:

1. Walk or bike the trails around Tanners Lake Park.
2. Catch a movie or grab dinner along the Hadley Avenue retail strip.
3. Take the kids to the Oakdale Discovery Playground.
4. Browse the Washington County Library’s Oakdale branch.
5. Shop the Tanger Outlets for back-to-school or holiday deals.

Getting Around: Commuting from Oakdale

Oakdale’s location at the I-694/I-94 interchange means downtown St. Paul is about a 15-minute drive without traffic, and downtown Minneapolis is closer to 25 minutes. Many residents also commute toward Woodbury, Maplewood, or across the St. Croix into Hudson, WI for work.

Metro Transit runs bus routes through Oakdale connecting to downtown St. Paul, so it’s not strictly a car-dependent suburb, though most residents we talk to still drive. If your household is adding a second car after the move, plan extra time for DMV paperwork during your first couple of months.

If you’re moving from farther away — say, relocating from Wisconsin or another part of Minnesota — contact Win-Win Moving Solutions early to lock in a moving date, especially if you’re targeting a weekend during peak moving season (May through September).

An 8-Step Checklist for Your Oakdale Move

We put this list together from the questions we hear most often from clients relocating into Washington County:

1. Get a written moving estimate 6-8 weeks before your target date, so you have time to compare pricing and lock in a date before peak season fills up.
2. Set up utilities (Xcel Energy, CenterPoint, and city water/sewer) at least two weeks ahead so service is active the day you arrive.
3. File your USPS change of address and update it with your bank, employer, and any subscriptions.
4. If you have kids, start the ISD 622 enrollment process as soon as you have a closing date — you’ll need proof of residency, which can take a few weeks to process.
5. Minnesota requires new residents to get a Minnesota driver’s license and register vehicles within 60 days of establishing residency.
6. Book your movers early — Oakdale’s spring and summer market moves fast, and so does moving company availability.
7. Pack a labeled essentials box with toiletries, chargers, and a few days of clothes so the first night doesn’t turn into a scavenger hunt.
8. Schedule a final walkthrough of your old place and confirm arrival windows with your moving crew.

Packing Tips for a Smoother Move

A little prep work goes a long way once moving day arrives. A few habits we recommend to every Oakdale client:

• Label boxes by room, not just contents, so movers know exactly where to set each box down.
• Pack a separate box of tools, hardware, and curtain rods so you’re not digging through ten boxes to hang a mirror.
• Take photos of your electronics setup before you unplug anything.
• Use towels and linens as padding for fragile items instead of buying extra bubble wrap.
• Keep moving day paperwork — your estimate, inventory list, and contact info for your crew — in one folder you can grab quickly.

Why Local Movers Make the Difference

A move within Washington County still comes with plenty of logistics — narrow driveways, HOA rules in newer developments, or a tight elevator in an apartment near the outlets. Win-Win Moving Solutions handles local moves, full-service packing, and short-term storage for Oakdale residents, and because we’re based in the area, we know the traffic patterns and building quirks that out-of-state movers don’t.

We also serve the surrounding communities — Woodbury, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, White Bear Lake, and across the river into Hudson and River Falls, WI — so if your search widens beyond Oakdale, we can still help. A lot of our Oakdale clients end up asking about short-term storage too, especially if there’s a gap between closing dates, and we can bundle that into your moving plan rather than making you coordinate a separate storage unit on your own.

Whether you’re coming from across town or across the state line, our crews treat your move like it’s our own. Contact Win-Win Moving Solutions or call us at (715) 600-0883 to get a free quote for your Oakdale move.