Oakdale is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of New York. With a population of 7,430 people and two associated neighborhoods, Oakdale is the 231st largest community in New York.

Housing costs in Oakdale are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in New York.

Of important note, Oakdale is also a town of artists. Oakdale has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Oakdale’s character.

One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 9.22% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Oakdale is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Oakdale’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Oakdale is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.

The education level of Oakdale ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Oakdale, 49.87% have at least a bachelor's degree. The typical US community has just 21.84% of its adults holding a bachelor's degree or graduate degree.

The per capita income in Oakdale in 2022 was $65,291, which is wealthy relative to New York and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $261,164 for a family of four.

Oakdale is a somewhat ethnically-diverse town. The people who call Oakdale home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Oakdale residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Oakdale include Italian, Irish, German, Polish, and English.

The most common language spoken in Oakdale is English. Other important languages spoken here include Italian and Chinese.