The Town FilesOxford, Mississippi
City in Lafayette County · population 25,416 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $385,700
- Household income
- $64,451
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 30.3
Oxford is a city of 25,416 people in Lafayette County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $385,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for cycling than 98% of Mississippi towns.
How Oxford ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oxford is worth $385,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $64,451, which is more affordable than 1% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 43.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oxford | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $385,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,451 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.2% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.6% | — |
Who lives in Oxford
| People | Oxford | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 83.3% |
Weather in Oxford
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 21, 1971 about 0.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 27 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 10, 1962.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 25,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Oxford itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Oxford
12 public schools with 7,667 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,370 | 15.6 |
| LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 880 | 14.7 |
| LAFAYETTE UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-6 | 800 | 13.1 |
| DELLA DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY | 2-3 | 780 | 14.2 |
| LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 778 | 12.0 |
| BRAMLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-1 | 713 | 11.1 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 668 | 12.6 |
| OXFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 666 | 12.8 |
| LAFAYETTE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 419 | 11.0 |
| OXFORD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 6-6 | 334 | 11.9 |
| OXFORD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-PK | 259 | 13.0 |
| OXF/LAF SCHOOL OF APPLIED TECH | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Oxford
- University, MS1.0 mi · 4,696 people · home —
- Water Valley, MS14.1 mi · 3,380 people · home $135,500
- Batesville, MS22.2 mi · 7,523 people · home $222,400
- Holly Springs, MS29.9 mi · 6,968 people · home $109,600
Oxford questions
Is Oxford, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oxford scores better for retirees than 49% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 16%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Oxford?
The median owner-occupied home in Oxford is valued at $385,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,451, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Oxford?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Oxford get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 21, 1971. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)