Oxford features waterfront homes, riverside restaurants and history
Oxford is a quaint waterfront town on the Eastern Shore, steeped in history and considered one of Maryland's oldest communities, as it was founded in 1683. The town has changed much over the centuries, from a small Colonial village to an established seaport for watermen and fruit packers, and today it is a charming settlement overflowing with leisure boating, seafood and stately waterfront homes along the Tred Avon River. "It's a very quiet community with a slower pace of life and beautiful homes surrounded by water. It's really like stepping back in time with all the historic architecture, too," says Brian Gearhart, a longtime Eastern Shore resident and Realtor with Benson & Mangold. Though it can be a peaceful place for a summer home, there is also a passionate community of long-time locals who live in Oxford year-round. "I'd estimate half of our residents in Oxford are full-time residents. Around 25-30 percent of them are folks who grew up in this area," says Gearhart.
Upscale waterfront homes and Victorians in Oxford Historic District
Buyers can find ramblers, as well as colonial- and Victorian-style homes, along quaint, tree-lined village streets. The median sale price for a single-family home in Oxford is $900,000, with waterfront options typically starting around the million-dollar mark. The Oxford Historic District makes up the town's northern peninsula and hosts the oldest homes in the community. Most properties are Victorian and Second Empire styles built between 1870 and 1910, though later years brought Colonial Revivals and American Foursquares to the area. Homeowners in the historic district must abide by established guidelines when repairing and renovating their properties. "Most buyers I'm working with are purchasing as empty nesters and working part-time or have the ability to not work in an office every day," says Gearhart. "Within a short time period, they might transition to a house that could be their retirement home."
Residents enjoy boating, biking and the Oxford Museum
Oxford Town Park features a playground, picnic tables and a sandy beach for swimming or kayaking. The Oxford/St. Michaels Bike Trail stretches almost 30 miles around Talbot County, and connects cyclists to Easton, Saint Michaels and Oxford. The Oxford Museum on South Morris Street displays artifacts and exhibits detailing over 300 years of the town's unique maritime history, people and cultures. Local families often donate personal items and heirlooms to the museum to add to the community's evolving story. Boating is very popular, with marinas around town like Campbell's Boatyards offering rental slips, and organizations like the Tred Avon Yacht Club hosting sailing programs and sailboat races.
Community establishments for snacks, seafood and Easton shopping
Oxford Market and Deli offers locally sourced wine, beer, spirits and grocery items, and a full-service deli for sandwiches, pastries and coffee. Doc's Sunset Grille is a waterfront restaurant serving oysters, crabs and cocktails. From the restaurant's west-facing outdoor patio, patrons can enjoy sweeping views of sunsets over the river. Scottish Highland Creamery sits across the street from Oxford Town Park and is a popular stop for homemade ice cream and fudge. For more shopping options, residents can head north to Easton for grocery chains like Harris Teeter and Aldi, or retailers like Walmart and Lowe's.
Students learn culinary skills at Easton High School
Talbot County Public Schools is the main district serving Oxford. Students can attend White Marsh Elementary, with a B-rating from Niche, while Easton Middle is rated a B-minus, and Easton High School gets a B. Easton High features several career and technical education courses, including an award-winning culinary program.
Connected to the Eastern Shore by ferry or Route 50
The Oxford—Bellevue Ferry is one of the nation's oldest privately owned ferry services. It opened in 1683 and has been running continuously since 1836. Today, it's a quick way for drivers and cyclists to cross the river to Bellevue or Saint Michaels. The nearest commuter road to Oxford is U.S. Route 50, known locally as Ocean Gateway. Drivers can take it 12 miles north to Easton or 48 miles south to Salisbury for work, leisure or flights out of Salisbury Regional Airport. The nearest hospital is the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Easton, about 15 minutes away.
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Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
