Oxford In Retirement? (Tupelo, Starkville, Memphis: low crime, school, university)

[nebloke]

A long shot but on the list for consideration. We are from the northeast but have ties to Ole Miss and love the town, university, surrounding area, and college town activities that Oxford has to offer.

Anyone, especially from another part of the country, have any experience with this?

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

A ton of people are retiring in Oxford and Starkville these days. I think, personally, I would love it. If you enjoy going to sporting events and are a fan of either school, seems like a no-brainer. It's actually my plan.

Not to mention, Oxford is a very nice town.

[Lizap]

Oxford is on a lot of lists for small town retirement destinations. We visited there once; we must have missed something.

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by Lizap

Oxford is on a lot of lists for small town retirement destinations. We visited there once; we must have missed something.

You did. For a town it's size it has culture, diversity, education, low crime rate, entertainment, friendly people, is close to larger towns like Tupelo and Memphis/Desoto County, proximity to lakes, etc.

Does it offer as much as a large city, no... if someone wants a large city to retire in Oxford isn't the place, but for people who want to live in a smaller town but still have amenities Oxford is pretty good.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by jhadorn

You did. For a town it's size it has culture, diversity, education, low crime rate, entertainment, friendly people, is close to larger towns like Tupelo and Memphis/Desoto County, proximity to lakes, etc.

Does it offer as much as a large city, no... if someone wants a large city to retire in Oxford isn't the place, but for people who want to live in a smaller town but still have amenities Oxford is pretty good.

We'll have to revisit. When we visited several years ago, seemed to be a sleepy little college town. It's 81 miles to Memphis, so I don't think proximity to there is a plus.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by Lizap

We'll have to revisit. When we visited several years ago, seemed to be a sleepy little college town. It's 81 miles to Memphis, so I don't think proximity to there is a plus.

It is a sleepy little college town but I think the thing that makes Oxford unique is that it doesn't just cater to the students. There are a lot of events that attract non students there. What I think is interesting about the square is there aren't very many places an adult wouldn't feel like they are out of place even if there are college students there.

The other thing about Oxford is that the whole town is nice. There really isn't a horrid looking student ghetto and if there is an impoverished part of town I've never seen it (haven't necessarily gone looking).

I'd love to live there. Never will get the chance but I've thought about it often.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

It is a sleepy little college town but I think the thing that makes Oxford unique is that it doesn't just cater to the students. There are a lot of events that attract non students there. What I think is interesting about the square is there aren't very many places an adult wouldn't feel like they are out of place even if there are college students there.

The other thing about Oxford is that the whole town is nice. There really isn't a horrid looking student ghetto and if there is an impoverished part of town I've never seen it (haven't necessarily gone looking).

I'd love to live there. Never will get the chance but I've thought about it often.

I grew up in a sleepy little college town - Auburn in the 1950's.
I don't see Oxford as a sleepy little town. When you need it, parking is not available. Housing prices have been driven off the charts. Even restaurants are more expensive in Oxford because students are spending 'funny money' they did not earn.
But in all fairness, I will admit to being more that a little disgusted with the current obsession with football and other sports. I don't think college is what it used to be when athletes truly were students and coaching was simply a job. A lot of people do like Oxford, though.

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by Lizap

It's 81 miles to Memphis, so I don't think proximity to there is a plus.

You have a point. Maybe it's relative. Growing up in small town Mississippi I am used to driving an hour or so to get to a larger place like Memphis , Tupelo, etc for shopping and other things.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by Lizap

Oxford is on a lot of lists for small town retirement destinations. We visited there once; we must have missed something.

Haha. Yeah, and you'd constantly be around Ole Miss folks.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Haha. Yeah, and you'd constantly be around Ole Miss folks.

Have nothing against Ole Miss. We seriously considered Oxford for retirement. Just not a lot going on there. Most everything revolves around Ole Miss.