Oxford, Mississippi, one of America’s great small towns, is nestled among the rolling hills of North Mississippi, 75 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee and 165 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, the state capital.  Oxford, population 12,000, offers a unique blend of college town southern charm and big city sophistication with a wonderfully diverse culture. According to Money magazine, "Oxford combines a southern lifestyle with the cosmopolitan flair of a college town."  It is best known for its art and literature. Works by renowned artists such as William Faulkner, John Grisham, and Willie Morris have added to the mystique of Oxford’s literary value. Each year, the University of Mississippi in Oxford hosts the internationally recognized Faulkner Conference offering lectures, performances and film and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture hosts the Oxford Conference for the Book offering lectures, panel discussions, and readings.

The mild climate adds to the beauty of the city. Average July temperatures are 84 degrees and average January temperatures are 38 degrees. Annual rainfall is 54 inches. 

Mississippi has a 7%  sales tax and the state income tax ranges from 3% to 5%; but retirement income from qualified public and private retirement plans are exempt from state tax.  According to nationwide statistics, the cost of living in Mississippi is approximately 10% below the national average.

The nearest passenger air service is Memphis International in Memphis, Tennessee with connections throughout the U.S. on major airlines. Major shopping needs can be met in Oxford’s thriving downtown offering distinctive shops or its numerous shopping centers fulfilling most of your needs. For the power shopper, Memphis with its major malls and stores is less than a 75 minute drive.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi is a 217-bed, regional acute-care facility that serves an eight-county area.  There are over 85 physicians on staff with over 31 specializations represented.  Some of the services include comprehensive cardiac care, 24-hour emergency service, neurosurgery, hospice care, a sleep disorder clinic, and a women's pavilion.  The hospital recently opened the Baptist Outpatient Surgery Center.  Baptist Cancer Institute and Diagnostics Center is the hospital's newest facility offering chemotherapy and radiation therapy along with other diagnostic procedures such as mammograms and ultrasound.  Home healthcare is available through area agencies, and Baptist Healthplex offers a variety of wellness and fitness programs to keep the young at heart fit and trim.  

The extensive activities available through the University of Mississippi , better known as "Ole Miss," complement the cultural, literary, musical and recreational opportunities in this quaint yet cosmopolitan community. Established in 1848, many of the University's historic buildings have been restored and reflect the architectural charm of that era. The 2,000 acre campus setting among magnolia and oak trees is home to a student population of 12,000 studying in over 100 programs available in seven major schools. Of special interest to retirees, tuition costs for one course up to four credit hours per semester is waived by the university for individuals 65 years of age or older on a space-available basis, and anyone can audit classes. The university is also the site of the Institute for Learning in Retirement offering a variety of courses, workshops, and seminars specifically geared to the interests and needs of retirees.

Since Oxford is home to a major national university, cultural opportunities are exceptional and Oxford is renowned as a mecca for writers, Mississippi blues musicians, and artists.  Two annual writers conferences are held in Oxford:  The Oxford Conference for the Book and the Faulkner Conference; both attract writers from around the world for lectures, panel discussions, dramatic readings and teaching sessions.  The Ole Miss Library houses the Blues Album collection of B.B. King and a Mississippi collection of works by William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and John Grisham. The university museums houses collections from a variety of fields to collections of Greek and Roman sculpture and pottery to a collection of southern folk art. Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home now owned by Ole Miss is maintained for memorial and educational purposes. The Center for the Study of Southern Culture is a teaching and research center exploring all aspects of Southern culture, from politics to food.  Throughout the year, the Center offers numerous conferences, lectures, and seminars on their cultural heritage. Every spring, the Ole Miss Jazz Reunion features renowned guest artists performing and conducting workshops on this uniquely American musical style and throughout the year there are concerts, plays and dance performances for all to enjoy hosted by the university.

The University of Mississippi course and the beautiful Grand Oak Golf Course offers 18-holes of golf. There are 45 public outdoor tennis courts of which 8 are lighted and one indoor court. The city has a 50 meter swimming pool while the University has both indoor and outdoor pools available to the public, and the whole city is a joggers or walkers paradise. 

John Kyle State Park at Sardis Lake offers nature trails and a variety of outdoor activities including swimming, water skiing, golf, camping, picnicking, and bird watching.  Thirty thousand plus acres Sardis Lake has excellent fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish and waters perfect for a variety of boating and water sports. Within 50 miles of Oxford there are four major lakes:  Sardis, Enid, Grenada and Arkabutla, which provide opportunities for camping, water sports, fishing and hunting.  Hunters will find the varied landscape home to an abundance of deer, turkey, dove, quail, and waterfowl. Some of the best duck hunting in the nation is found in the wetlands near Oxford.  With more than 90,000 acres of protect forest, Holly Springs National Forest, which virtually surrounds Oxford, offers a complete environment for nature lovers and hunting enthusiasts alike as well as providing easy access to hiking trails and primitive campsites.   

Oxford’s captivating charm begins right in the center of town in the "Square", which showcases several unique specialty shops and restaurants, an art gallery and lots of late night blues.  The bustling square centers around the courthouse that was rebuilt in 1873 after being burned in 1864 by federal troops and is now a designated National historic Landmark. The city offers a fascinating tour of architectural beauty of Greek Revival, Victorian, Italiante villa, and southern mansions; many of which now house the area’s local retail shops, jewelry, gift, book shops, museums, bed and breakfast inns, and restaurants as well as professional offices and services. Throughout the year, live jazz and blues concerts are given regularly around the square.

It doesn't cost a fortune to retire in Oxford.  The home of the University of Mississippi offers an abundance of cultural activities for intellectually curious retirees. Oxford is quaint, safe, inexpensive and offers good medical facilities.  Mississippi retirees are exempt from state taxes on income drawn from Social Security, IRA's, pensions and 401(k)s. 

For a town of its size, there are many housing options ranging from grand antebellums and historic homes to new developments.  The average price of a 2-bedroom, 2-bath home is $140,000. New construction costs approximately $95 per square foot. Housing options vary from antebellum and historic homes; each with their own unique style, quaint country homes with acreage, a residential resort golf community with homes and villas nestled around the fairways of the 450-acre community, and retirement housing geared to an active retirement lifestyle or assisted living. Property taxes on a $100,000 home are $1,200; $600 for those age 65 and older utilizing the homestead exemption.  The state provides an exemption from certain ad valorem taxes, which is effective on the first $6,000 of assessed value on a home.

Oxford is a small town with a unique charm and hospitality all of its own but with a flare for art and literature. Gardens, flowers and trees are brilliant most of the year with azaleas, dogwoods, and magnolias in full color. The wooded pines and year round pleasant climate affords its residents a scenic and comfortable environment. If a safe and affordable small town atmosphere with cosmopolitan services, cultural offerings, educational opportunities and other aspects of a major university are what you are seeking, then Oxford, Mississippi may indeed fulfill your retirement needs.