Oxford, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Oxford, Mississippi had a total population of 26,411, the 14th largest city in Mississippi, with a median household income of $64,451, which is 14% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- 57.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Mississippi.
Oxford Quick Facts
How Oxford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,086 | 26,411 | +1.2% |
| Median household income | $59,901 | $64,451 | +7.6% |
| Median home value | $333,400 | $385,700 | +15.7% |
How Oxford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 56 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Oxford Rankings in Mississippi
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Other Cities in Lafayette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | 5,315 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Abbeville | 311 | $61,250 | 8.0% | $161,500 |
| Paris | 302 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Taylor | 245 | $80,208 | 11.0% | $283,900 |
| Tula | 123 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Oxford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl | 27,737 | $61,695 | $182,500 | 28.1% | 12.2% |
| Ridgeland | 24,587 | $66,038 | $275,200 | 51.6% | 9.9% |
| Clinton | 27,195 | $74,745 | $225,800 | 47.8% | 9.6% |
| Horn Lake | 26,647 | $53,311 | $171,400 | 16.5% | 19.0% |
| Brandon | 25,542 | $92,783 | $278,900 | 41.3% | 8.5% |
Population Overview
Oxford is a mid-sized community located in Mississippi, within Lafayette County. The total population is 26,411. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.
Age Demographics
The median age in Oxford is 30.3 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Oxford is $64,451. This is 14% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.4%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $385,700. Housing costs are 127% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 43.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Oxford is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.8% vs 1.0%).
Education
57.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Oxford in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 129% higher than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.6%. Notably, 29.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Oxford, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Mississippi city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Oxford, Mississippi?
Oxford, Mississippi has a population of 26,411 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Oxford, MS?
The median household income in Oxford is $64,451, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Oxford, MS?
The poverty rate in Oxford is 25.4%. This means approximately 6,507 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Oxford, Mississippi?
Oxford's population is 64.7% White, 25.5% Black, 4.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Oxford, MS?
The median home value in Oxford is $385,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x.
How educated is Oxford, Mississippi?
57.5% of adults (25+) in Oxford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 29.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.