The median price of a home in Oxford is roughly $180,000, and modest but well kept single family homes can be found in the low-$100,000s.  Condominiums start for sale for less than $100,000, but inventory opens up in the low- to mid-$100,000s.  Most homes sit along leafy, oak lined streets, and a good variety of housing types exists, from gorgeous, restored antebellum mansions and palatial French country manors to everyday, brick ranch-style dwellings.   The median price will purchase roughly 2,000 sq. ft. with three to four bedrooms, a large yard, a detached garage, mature landscaping and upgrades.  In general, real estate is more expensive near the downtown Square as this is the most sought after area.   There are several master planned developments, including Wellsgate, a subdivision across from John Grisham's part-time home on the west side of town, and Steeplechase, a lovely development with homes in the $1 million dollar range.   Oxford also has good selection of apartments a good number of apartment complexes (although many units are rented by students), and the median rent is $650 per month.

Mississippi has one of the lowest per capita tax burdens of any state.  When it comes to real estate taxes, property is assessed at 10% of market value and is taxed at roughly $85 per $1,000 of assessed value.   Annual taxes on a $180,000 home would be $1,242 without any exemptions, but all homeowners receive a $300 tax exemption, and homeowners age 65 or better (or disabled) receive an exemption of $75,000 on the true value of their home. Social Security benefits, retired military retirement pay, private pensions and IRAs are all exempt from taxation.  There is no inheritance tax.  The sales tax is 7%.

 This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs to zoom in and out.

Much of life in Oxford happens in the historic downtown Square where restaurants (more than 50, including the Downtown Grill and Proud Larry's), coffeehouses, pubs, banks, art galleries, law offices, rowhouse condos with colorful balconies, markets and the renown Square Books bookstore (where book signings take place and where famous authors are said to hang-out) are located.  Students help keep the area lively, but everyone seems to enjoy the festive atmosphere.  

Oxford, Mississippi, Continued...