Oxford, MS
Census place 2854840 · pop 26,411
Home of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and of novelist William Faulkner, whose estate Rowan Oak still stands here.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.57 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
43.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
25.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-2.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$2,117/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$385,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1856 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,451 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
90.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
25.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
32.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
131 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.74% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
57.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Not measured for Oxford: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Oxford, MS a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Oxford scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is bachelor's degree or higher and its weakest is income inequality. Mississippi overall ranks #27 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Oxford, MS?
- Oxford reports 131 violent crimes per 100k and 1856 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Oxford, MS expensive to live in?
- Oxford has a median home value of $385,700 and typical rent around $2,117/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Oxford, MS?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.57) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Oxford, MS best at?
- Its strongest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (57.5%) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and of novelist William Faulkner, whose estate Rowan Oak still stands here.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.