What are the schools like in Oxford, AL?

Oxford is served primarily by Oxford City. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Oxford?

The median household income in Oxford, AL is $66,031 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Oxford, AL?

Oxford has an average high temperature of 54.7°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

Oxford, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Oxford, AL affordable or expensive?

Oxford's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oxford is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,700 and the median rent is $883 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Oxford, AL?

Oxford has a violent crime rate of 145.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2659.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oxford, AL a Good Place to Live?

Oxford is a small city of 22,019 in Alabama, with a median household income of $66,031 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Oxford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Oxford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Oxford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.7

Oxford's overall cost of living index is 91.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oxford costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Oxford, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$883	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,031	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Oxford's violent crime rate is 145.0 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

145.0 /100k

Property Crime

2659.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Oxford is served primarily by Oxford City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oxford, AL	National Avg
School District	Oxford City	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oxford sees average highs of 54.7°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 52.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oxford, AL
Average High — January	54.7°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	52.1"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Oxford, AL	National Avg
Population	22,019	—
Median Age	37.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.8%	22.2%
65 and over	16.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hobson City, AL 2 mi West End-Cobb Town, AL 4 mi Anniston, AL 6 mi Munford, AL 7 mi Saks, AL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Oxford

Oxford, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

36203 36260

Oxford vs Other Cities

Oxford, AL vs Hobson City, AL Oxford, AL vs West End-Cobb Town, AL Oxford, AL vs Anniston, AL Oxford, AL vs Munford, AL Oxford, AL vs Saks, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oxford, AL affordable or expensive?

Oxford's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Oxford roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,700 and median rent is $883/month.

What is the crime rate in Oxford, AL?

Oxford's violent crime rate is 145.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2659.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oxford?

Public schools in Oxford are operated by Oxford City. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oxford, AL a good place to live?

Oxford, AL has a population of 22,019, a median household income of $66,031, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Oxford?

Oxford averages 54.7°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.1 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oxford?

Oxford, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 36203, 36260.

What is the population of Oxford?

The population of Oxford, Alabama is 22,019 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oxford?

Key numbers for living in Oxford: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $161,700, median household income $66,031, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oxford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.