© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Oxford.
About
Life in Oxford
Oxford is a community of 22,063 people in Alabama. The median household income is $74,268, median rent runs about $925 per month, and median home values are around $170,900. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Oxford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Foreign-Born
4.4%
Broadband Internet
90.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oxford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oxford, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (57.5%), and 4.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
16.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.2%
of households
Married Couples
48.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% below AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Oxford
In Oxford, rent runs 8% below the AL average, and home values are 19% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$697
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $196,847 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Oxford
Unemployment in Calhoun County, which includes Oxford, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Oxford: Calhoun County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Calhoun County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Oxford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.2 min avg
How Oxford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oxford, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 53 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oxford runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,381.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oxford Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Calhoun County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Calhoun County, which includes Oxford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Drought | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Calhoun County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Clay County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 23 miles from Oxford) is typically good — 287 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
287
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Clay County, AL (23 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oxford has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.1"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"
Hot Days/Year
60
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
52
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 34°F | 4.84" |
| Feb | 59°F | 37°F | 5.08" |
| Mar | 67°F | 44°F | 5.37" |
| Apr | 75°F | 51°F | 4.43" |
| May | 82°F | 60°F | 4.35" |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 4.68" |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 3.51" |
| Sep | 85°F | 64°F | 3.11" |
| Oct | 76°F | 52°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 65°F | 41°F | 4.53" |
| Dec | 57°F | 37°F | 4.60" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oxford
Uninsured
9.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Oxford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Anniston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oxford
Oxford's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Freedom Riders National Monument, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oxford
Oxford has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Freedom Riders National Monument (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
3 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
44 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
55 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
58 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
77 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
81 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oxford
Oxford Public Library
110 East 6th Street, Oxford
Cities Near Oxford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oxford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oxford FAQ
Is Oxford, Alabama affordable?⌄
Oxford's median rent is $925/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,268/year. Median home value is $170,900.
Is Oxford, Alabama safe?⌄
Oxford's violent crime rate was 181 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2381 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oxford, Alabama?⌄
Calhoun County, which includes Oxford, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oxford, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Oxford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $925/month and median household income is $74,268/year. The median home value is $170,900. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oxford, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Oxford is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from