The Town FilesOxford, Iowa
City in Johnson County · population 722 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,200
- Household income
- $82,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 37.1
Oxford is a city of 722 people in Johnson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $215,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 95% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Oxford ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oxford is worth $215,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $82,639, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,068 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oxford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,068 | $820 |
| Median household income | $82,639 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oxford
| People | Oxford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Oxford
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2023 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 3, 2011.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 83,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,363 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Oxford itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Oxford
1 public school with 301 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Elementary School | PK-4 | 301 | 12.5 |
Towns near Oxford
- Tiffin, IA7.2 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- Middle Amana, IA7.6 mi · 543 people · home $267,000
- North Liberty, IA9.4 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Swisher, IA9.8 mi · 914 people · home $260,300
- Coralville, IA10.2 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Walford, IA11.0 mi · 1,366 people · home $303,000
- Shueyville, IA11.2 mi · 731 people · home $574,800
- Williamsburg, IA12.1 mi · 3,346 people · home $204,300
Oxford questions
Is Oxford, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oxford scores better for retirees than 12% of Iowa towns and quieter than 23%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Oxford?
The median owner-occupied home in Oxford is valued at $215,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,639, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,068 a month.
What is the weather like in Oxford?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Oxford get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2023. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)