The Town FilesOxford, North Carolina
City in Granville County · population 8,628 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,200
- Household income
- $43,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.6
Oxford is a city of 8,628 people in Granville County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $196,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 91% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 90% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Oxford ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oxford is worth $196,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $43,054, which is more affordable than 24% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $995 a month. 52.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oxford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $995 | $969 |
| Median household income | $43,054 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Oxford
| People | Oxford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Oxford
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 24, 2016 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 10, 1980.
Severe weather in Granville County since 1996
Granville County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Granville County
Granville County had 20,301 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,314 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Oxford itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Oxford
7 public schools with 2,901 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford Preparatory (charter) | K-12 | 851 | 15.2 |
| J. F. Webb High | 9-12 | 549 | 15.3 |
| Northern Granville Middle | 6-8 | 490 | 17.5 |
| West Oxford Elementary | PK-5 | 461 | 14.0 |
| C. G. Credle Elementary | PK-5 | 314 | 13.7 |
| Granville Academy | K-12 | 216 | 15.4 |
| Phoenix Academy | K-12 | 20 | 10.0 |
Towns near Oxford
- Henderson, NC9.6 mi · 15,060 people · home $123,800
- Creedmoor, NC14.5 mi · 4,866 people · home $281,400
- Butner, NC15.5 mi · 8,397 people · home $231,100
- Louisburg, NC22.2 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Roxboro, NC22.3 mi · 8,134 people · home $157,700
- Wake Forest, NC25.1 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Rolesville, NC28.9 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Durham, NC29.4 mi · 283,506 people · home $392,800
Oxford questions
Is Oxford, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oxford scores better for retirees than 63% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 50%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Oxford?
The median owner-occupied home in Oxford is valued at $196,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,054, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $995 a month.
What is the weather like in Oxford?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Oxford get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oxford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 24, 2016. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)