Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar House · Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Oxford is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Oxford differs from Mississippi on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oxford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oxford
Oxford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Oxford is healthier than 73%. Against the 9,815 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 93%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Oxford doesn’t win on
18.2% of adults binge drink, vs 13.6% across Mississippi, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Oxford
Oxford runs below Mississippi on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (9.2% vs 15.5%), stroke (2.7% vs 4.5%) and heart disease (4.8% vs 7.5%). Conditions ↓
Oxford is an active town
Only 25.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 34% across Mississippi. The town has 32 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Oxford has a top-rated hospital
Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Mississippi figure falls outside Oxford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Oxford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oxford is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #10 of 101 in Mississippi. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 89% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 37%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Oxford’s median household income is $64,451; among the 9,815 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 93%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Mississippi towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Oxford is healthier than 90% of graded towns, against 72% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
32 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Oxford adults…
Oxford runs below MS on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Oxford
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Oxford, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Oxford; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Oxford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
How Oxford adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Oxford does better than Mississippi.
4 in 10 Oxford adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Oxford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
Oxford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | B+ | 32.5% | 9.2% | 11.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oxford adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oxford
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oxford is better than Mississippi on 19 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Oxford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oxford | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15.4–19.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 14.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.8–20 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.5%26.4–38.8 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.2%8–10.5 | 15.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.6%27.2–34 | 44.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.7%28–35.4 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18.3–23 | 29.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.3–10.7 | 10% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%12.4–17.9 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%10.1–13.5 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%21.8–29.8 | 34% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15–21.8 | 13.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%28.2–39.8 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%8.1–11.2 | 11.5% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.2–81.3 | 81.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81%78.5–83.3 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.1%69.6–74.4 | 79.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%60.1–69.8 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%69–83 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%17.8–24.2 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%32–41.8 | 36.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%21.6–28.7 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%14.9–19.8 | 22.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.8%11–14.6 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7.3–9.6 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.6–12.2 | 11.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.2–11.3 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%28.7–36.9 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%10.2–13.2 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.6–19.7 | 17.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.9 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–10 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 5.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Oxford
Is Oxford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oxford is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #10 of 101 in Mississippi. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oxford?
CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 38.8%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oxford?
Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS in Oxford, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Oxford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oxford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–11.2%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Oxford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oxford.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.