A historic college town within an hour of Cincinnati
During the academic year in Oxford, Ohio, campus quads, brick lecture halls and tree-lined walkways fill with college students on their way to class, and High Street's cafes crowd with study groups. Miami University has anchored the city since its founding in the early 1800s when the student population was still only a few hundred, and Cincinnati was only accessible via horse and carriage. Today, around 16,000 undergraduates call MU home, and 22,000 year-round residents take full advantage of university resources: cheering on the Redhawks at the Goggin Ice Center and attending lecture series in the Hall Auditorium. According to Tammy Thome, a Realtor with Century 21 Thacker & Associates, “You have a strong presence of people coming [here] who are affiliated with the university, but you have a long-standing community as well, and a lot of alumni come back and relocate [to Oxford] after they have their careers.” There are also larger cities within commuting distance. “We’re close to Cincinnati, but if you don’t want to be down in the hustle and bustle, we have a great community with a great small-town feel,” says Thome.
Miami University students get to hear the 50 bells of the Pulley Bell Tower throughout the day.
Miami University students aren't the only visitors to the Bishop Stones at Conrad Formal Gardens
1/2
Student apartments and mid-century family homes
Oxford’s oldest homes sit on compact, gridded lots near High Street shopping. Architectural styles reflect designs from the early 1900s, and it’s common to spot bungalows, Foursquares and Colonials. “Many older homes get converted into student rentals,” says Thome. Prospective buyers will also find midcentury ranch-style homes farther from campus, as well as condo units dating back to the '80s and pockets of new construction in subdivisions like Owls Landing. Here, multi-car garages and uniform front lawns are the standard. The median price for a single-family home in Oxford hovers around $350,000, significantly less than the national median.
Beautiful landscapes show pride in ownership for this row of Oxford homes.
Here's a birds eye view of Farmers School of Business on the Miami University campus.
1/2
Miami University resources for community members
Miami University, or MU, has anchored Oxford for over 200 years and is consistently ranked among the best public universities in the county by sources like U.S. World & News Report. Students from more than 100 countries are enrolled at the school, and some brick dormitories date back to the 1820s. The campus — which spans over 2,000 acres — features tree-lined walking trails, spacious green quads and athletic fields. Famed poet Robert Frost was known to have complimented its beauty, having visited the school several times throughout the first half of the 20th century. Students and Oxford residents alike can attend artists showcases at Hiestand Galleries, basketball games in Millett Hall and lecture series on everything from American democracy to Myaamia folklore. There are open skate times at Goggin Ice Center, and Miami University Recreational Sports Center has an eight-lane lap pool, gym equipment, and bouldering walls. Annual and monthly membership options are available for the public.
The city of Oxford is proud to be the home of Miami University.
These students take advantage of one of the many walkways on Miami University's campus.
1/2
Talawanda City Schools partner with Miami University, and classes at the Oxford Library
The Talawanda School District serves the city, earning an overall B grade from Niche. There are three elementary options, one middle school and one high school. Miami University partners with the district to offer one-on-one tutoring, mentoring and even guided trips to the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, where there are rotating exhibits of art from around the world. More educational opportunities — including everything from genealogy assistance to book clubs — are available at the Oxford Lane Library, and there’s also the Oxford Community Arts Center. Here, residents can take watercolor workshops, practice tai chi or share their creative writing.
Neighborhood students may attend Talawanda Middle School.
Talawanda High School features a technology-infused curriculum for it's students.
1/2
Historic High Street and Tollgate Shopping Mall
Much of the city’s shopping and dining is concentrated along High Street to the north of campus, an area known as Uptown. Historic buildings here — some of which have brightly painted, decorative trim — house gift shops, bubble tea cafes and gift stores. Streets are paved with brick, and cars park diagonally. Restaurants serve a mix of cuisines, including Cincinnati-style chili, pizza and sushi. For locally sourced items, students and university staff shop at the Saturday morning farmers market outside the Community Arts Center, where — even in the wintertime — vendors sell fresh eggs and artisan pastries. Bars like Brick Street host live bands, and the Tollgate Shopping Mall off Locust Street has a mix of fast-food chains and big-box stores.
The city of Oxford features historic buildings housing many different shops and restaurants.
This cyclist takes advantage of a sunny day to visit Conrad Formal Gardens.
1/2
Oxford Area Trails, public parks and summertime concerts
The initial phase of Oxford Area Trails, or OATS, a network of pathways connecting the historic Black Covered bridge to university facilities, city parks and Talawanda High School, was completed in 2017. At its final stage, OATS will span 12 miles. There are seven public parks located throughout the city and at nearly 115 acres, Oxford Community Park is the largest. It features baseball diamonds, sand volleyball courts and an award-winning aquatic center complete with a lazy river and a competition pool. There’s an interactive splash pad in Uptown Parks, which also hosts a free Thursday night concert series during the summer. Hueston Woods State Park, a destination for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and golf, is also a short trip away. Temperatures in Oxford often fall a few degrees below freezing in December, January and February, and families swim and sunbathe at Hueston Woods State Park beach during the warmest months of the year.
Bishop Woods is one of several campus green spaces where students can find a quiet space.
The vegetation has all but covered this Conrad Formal Gardens pergola.
1/2
Christmas, Halloween and ‘Oxtoberfest’
According to Thome, Oxford has “Pretty much everything a small town, or even a larger town, should have.” There’s a long list of annual events like the two-day Holiday Festival which features carriage rides, live music and Santa visits or the Maple Syrup Festival held each March. Summertime means Red Brick Fridays and firework shows on Independence Day, and there’s an Uptown Halloween Parade sponsored by the Lions Club in October. In September, residents can participate in the stein-holding contest at Oxford’s Oktoberfest, or “Oxtoberfest” as it's often called, while listening to live music.
Cincinnati and Dayton 40 miles away
It’s common for Oxford residents to work at Miami University. The Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) has three set bus routes throughout the city, all of which stop on campus—fares are free for all riders. There's also a comprehensive network of paved bike trails around town connecting public parks to shopping centers and campus buildings. Others commute to work in larger cities like Cincinnati, which is about 40 miles away via U.S. Route 27, or Dayton, also about 40 miles away via Ohio State Route 725. There are dozens of direct flights available from Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International, and medical care is accessible at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital on North Poplar Street, part of the TriHealth System. According to FBI data, crime has been on a downward trend in Oxford over the past five years, and the vast majority of incidents are non-violent. Crime rates in Oxford are lower than both national and state averages.
Robert Smith is someone who loves helping people. After he enjoyed a short career in business marketing, he discovered that his true passion was to help people with one of the most important decisions in life. His goal is to guide you through a fun and seamless real estate transaction while showing you how to avoid common pitfalls.
Robert was born and raised in Cincinnati, and it is where he calls home with his family. One of his favorite things about Cincinnati is the diversity, and he has knowledge of every nook and cranny in whatever neighborhood you are dreaming to call home. So, whether you are investing, looking for a multi-family or a single-family home, let Robert utilize his experience to help guide you in finding what's best for you.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
