Book Aficionados Will Love Retirement in Literary Oxford, Mississippi

Cost of Living:  Below the National Average

There are many reasons to chose to retire in this historic southern town of 14,000 people, but its literary tradition is one of its top calling cards.  Oxford, located in rolling hills southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, is home to the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss") and has been the inspiration for writers William Faulkner, John Grisham, Willie Morris and Cynthia Shearer, as well as many others.  Residents talk of the town's famous "literary mystique," that intangible something that gets the creative juices flowing and beckons to poets, novelists, and, yes, retirees.  Oxford offers a rich, cosmopolitan (but laid-back) culture at an affordable price, and the town works to attract retirees to complement its younger, college-age population (which numbers about 15,000 in of itself).

Miller's Landing is a condominium complex offering 2 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow-style condos for $99,000.   Sage Meadow is another condo development and has 2 bedroom, 2 bath rowhouse-style units for $110,000.    The Quarter Condominiums have units beginning at $97,000, and High Point Condominiums have units priced at $114,000 and up. We also found condos, located more toward the University and the historic downtown, ranging from $350,000 to $700,000.  

In general, real estate is more expensive near the downtown Square than in other areas of Oxford, and single-family homes for sale here can be hard to find as this is the most sought-after part of town.   Real estate in other areas, though, is plentiful and quite nice.  We found a 2 bedroom, 2 bath cottage (1,160 square feet) on 6.5 acres just outside of town for $60,000.  For twice that amount, roughly $134,000, we discovered a darling 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with 1,300 square feet in an established neighborhood.   We also found some lovely single-family homes, not in developments but in subdivisions with a mix of ages, starting at around $179,000 and including 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a yard, a hot tub, covered porches, 9 foot ceilings, a formal dining room and recessed lighting, all spread across 1,600 square feet.   $360,000 will fetch a stunning 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with 3,400 square feet, 1.3 acres, a pool, cathedral ceilings and huge walk-in closets.  

Wellsgate, a subdivision across from John Grisham's part-time home on the west side of town, has single-family homes from $175,000 to $500,000.  Grand Oaks is an upscale golf community that offers homes from the $225,000s to $420,000s.  Edgewood features homes starting in the low $130,00s.    Steeple Chase has gorgeous $750,000+ villas on large lots of land.  There are several other new developments as well, mostly on the outskirts of town.

Oxford also has three manufactured home parks (Ewing Park Community at 662-236-2883; Mobile City Mobile Park at 662-234-5322; Oxford Wheels Estates at 662-234-9602) and a good number of apartment complexes with rents starting at around $400 per month for a one bedroom, one bath unit and at $750 per month for a three bedroom unit, but we found most of these to be rented by college students. 

The average cost-of-living in Mississippi is 10% lower than the national average, and the per capita tax burden is the lowest of any state.  Property is assessed at 10% of market value and is taxed at $69 per $1,000 of assessed value. Social Security benefits, private pensions and IRAs are exempt from taxation.

Much of life in Oxford happens in the historic downtown Square where restaurants (more than 50, including the Downtown Grill and Proud Larry's), coffeehouses, pubs, banks, art galleries, law offices, condos with colorful balconies, markets and the famous Square Books bookstore (where book signings take place and where John Grisham is said to hang-out) are located.  Students help keep the area lively, but everyone seems to enjoy the festive atmosphere.  

Once a year, the University of Mississippi hosts the Oxford Conference for the Book, a week-long event that brings some of the nation's most authoritative writers, poets and publishers to town.  It is open to the public and well-attended year in and year out.  Each August, the University also presents another literary conference, the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, which brings in Faulkner scholars from around the world (Faulkner's home is still here and open for tours).   Oxford and its residents seem to love the magic that these events bring to town.  In addition, Ole Miss presents live theater, concerts, museum exhibits and lectures for the public; the University library is also open to all residents.  Theatre Oxford, the local community theater group, presents plays each year, and the annual Double Decker Arts Festival showcases food, art and music.  

For sports lovers, the University of Mississippi's football culture is nearly a religion, and the University's golf course and the lovely Grand Oak Golf Course offer18-holes of golf.   There are 45 public outdoor tennis courts, and the city has a 50 meter swimming pool (the University has both indoor and outdoor public pools available).  Walkers will love the city's extensive system of paved paths.

Retirees will appreciate that the University offers up to four credit hours of class work per semester at no cost to those 65 or better.   The University is also the site of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and provides a variety of courses, workshops, and seminars specifically geared to the interests and needs of seniors.  

Health care should not be a worry if retiring in Oxford.  Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi is a 205-bed facility that is a referral center and home to more than 70 doctors and surgeons.  It has a women's center, a cancer unit and a cardiac care center, as well as 24/7 emergency care.    Sta-Home is a home health care agency that provides skilled nursing, occupational therapy (such as help with bathing, grooming, etc.) and other services for seniors in their homes.  Azalea Gardens (662-234-9600) is an independent and assisted-living facility with cottages for sale and a monthly service fee.  Hermitage Gardens of Oxford (662-234-8244) is also an assisted-living facility.  Meals on Wheels is active as well.

All religious denominations are represented here, and the city has a crime rate below the national average.

The weather in is hot and humid in the summer (average summer highs are in the high 80s and low 90s) but pleasant in the winter (highs in the 70s and lows in the mid-30s).  For those from dry climates, however, these temperatures can still feel chilly!   The area does occasionally see snow and receives, on average, 55 inches of rain per year.  Oxford is not in "Tornado Alley" but can be visited by tornadoes in the spring and summer and can receive after-effects of hurricanes that hit the Gulf coast.

From the Civil War when much of the town Square was burned by a Union general to civil rights' unrest during the 1960s, Oxford has seen its share of upheaval and today is a conservative place that is becoming somewhat gentrified.  It also has a lot of students, but much of its housing is affordable, and the southern charm is abundant.   It often seems as though the spirit of William Faulkner himself is here (his grave is located at St. Peter's Cemetery).   Oxford's program to recruit seniors is called the Retiree Attraction Program and can be reached at 800-880-6967.

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