True Cost of Renting in Oxford, MS

Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) — and the Square's bookstores, Square Books, and restaurant scene have made it the most literarily significant college town in the South. William Faulkner's Rowan Oak is a walking distance from campus. Ole Miss football's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium creates game-day demand that rivals much larger universities. Rents are surprisingly high for a small Mississippi city.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

The Square / Oxford Downtown

Studio:
$950/mo
1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,500/mo

Oxford's famous courthouse square; walkable restaurants, Square Books, and entertainment. Apartments above retail and in surrounding blocks command premiums for location. Very competitive — sign early. Entergy Mississippi electric.

Oxford University Area

Studio:
$850/mo
1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

Student-adjacent neighborhoods around the Ole Miss campus; August lease synchronization. Walk to campus and The Square. Older houses and apartment buildings at lower rents than The Square proper.

South Oxford / Old Taylor Road

1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,500/mo

Residential area with newer apartment communities south of campus; lower game-day noise impact. Car helpful. Ole Miss Grove tailgating access still practical. Better for non-student long-term renters.

Utility Providers

Electric
Entergy Mississippi
Water
City of Oxford Water Utilities
Internet
Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Internet, Starlink

Commute & Transportation

Oxford is 75 miles south of Memphis, TN on US-78 (I-22). Memphis is the nearest major airport and employment center. Ole Miss (22,000 students, 3,500 staff) dominates local employment. The Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi is the largest non-university employer. Oxford is not a commuter suburb — it is a destination city best suited for those with local or remote employment.

Rental Market Overview

Oxford rents run higher than comparable-sized Mississippi cities due to Ole Miss demand and the town's national reputation. Entergy Mississippi summer bills average $110–170/month. Ole Miss game weekends (6–7 home games per year) create intense short-term rental demand that local landlords leverage with seasonal pricing clauses. The Square's cultural reputation attracts remote workers and creatives who find the town's literary character compelling at below-Nashville prices.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Oxford

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Explore Other Mississippi Cities