The Town FilesOxford, Alabama
City in Calhoun County · population 22,069 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $170,900
- Household income
- $74,268
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.3
Oxford is a city of 22,069 people in Calhoun County, Alabama. The median home is worth $170,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 94% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 85% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Alabama towns.
How Oxford ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oxford is worth $170,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $74,268, which is more affordable than 83% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 75.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oxford | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $925 | $834 |
| Median household income | $74,268 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Oxford
| People | Oxford | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Oxford
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1973 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 43,778 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,354 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Oxford itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Oxford
4 public schools with 2,658 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford High School | 9-12 | 1,271 | 15.7 |
| Oxford Elementary School | PK-4 | 801 | 12.5 |
| Oxford Middle School | 7-8 | 586 | 13.6 |
| Oxford Area Vocational School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Oxford
- West End-Cobb Town, AL3.8 mi · 3,128 people · home $83,900
- Anniston, AL6.3 mi · 21,564 people · home $158,800
- Saks, AL8.0 mi · 9,956 people · home $116,400
- Choccolocco, AL10.5 mi · 2,838 people · home $262,900
- Alexandria, AL11.4 mi · 4,032 people · home $197,700
- Weaver, AL11.7 mi · 3,339 people · home $162,300
- Lincoln, AL15.0 mi · 6,845 people · home $187,200
- Jacksonville, AL16.1 mi · 14,385 people · home $185,500
Oxford questions
Is Oxford, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oxford scores better for retirees than 19% of Alabama towns and quieter than 32%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Oxford?
The median owner-occupied home in Oxford is valued at $170,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,268, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Oxford?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Oxford get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1973. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)