Oxford Township offers suburban living in Hanover’s outskirts
Oxford Township is a rural suburb a few miles north of Hanover offering peaceful living and a small-town atmosphere. About 5,900 people call the Adams County township home, a number that’s been steadily rising as former pastures give way to new home developments. The community surrounds the small borough of New Oxford, where a historic downtown square offers antique shopping and local restaurants. Two-lane country roads lead to national retailers in Hanover.
Oxford Township's economy is diverse, with farms, manufacturing plants, schools and a large quarry. The school system is one of Adams County’s top employers. Meanwhile, the enclave is welcoming a wave of retirees moving into Cross Keys Village, a new retirement community off state Route 94.
A variety of single-family homes with farmhouse-inspired features
Most single-family homes in Oxford Township fill farmland-wrapped subdivisions with wide streets and sidewalks. These Colonial Revival, neotraditional, split-level and ranch-style homes often feature farmhouse-inspired covered front porches. Historic homes dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s rest outside the New Oxford limits, while new construction is rising in the Summerfield development. Prices for detached homes range from $120,000 to $675,000. Townhouses cost between $210,000 and $245,000. Properties along and near the south branch of Conewago Creek may rest within flood hazard areas, according to FEMA flood maps.
Public schools in Conewago Valley earn solid B ratings
Niche gives the Conewago Valley School District a B-plus overall rating. The district’s five traditional schools earn B ratings. Students can attend New Oxford Elementary for kindergarten through third grade before moving on to Conewago Valley Intermediate for fourth through sixth. Seventh and eighth graders can go to New Oxford Middle. New Oxford High partners with Adams County Technical Institute to offer hands-on programs in fields such as the culinary arts and building trades. The private, C-plus-rated Freedom Christian Schools has a campus nearby.
A range of shopping and dining options from New Oxford to Hanover
Most retail and restaurant options within Oxford Township are along U.S. Route 30 and state Route 94. Bourbon Mill, a lively post-work hangout for drinks and pub fare, often draws a crowd when bands play under the pavilion out back. “That’s a great live music spot,” says Carolyn Boyle , a Hanover area native and Realtor with Re/Max Quality Service, Inc. “They’ll have a band inside and a band outside. You can go back and forth.” Boyle adds that Crabbs Tropical Treat is a must-visit. The restaurant offers a vintage drive-in experience for burgers, fries and shakes. Half Pint Creamery, a family-owned ice cream chain, is popular for dessert. More local restaurants are close by in New Oxford 's Town Square, which also offers boutique shopping. National retailers and chain grocers are a few miles away in Hanover , along the state Route 94 commercial corridor, which is home to North Hanover Mall.
Green spaces and sports facilities surround Oxford Township
Oxford Township’s Recreation Park is the community’s main green space. The park features a baseball field, as well as a new playground and walking trails that were added in 2025. The township plans to add a pavilion in the future. Cross Keys Community Park, less than a mile outside the township, has similar amenities as well as a dog park and beach volleyball courts. The surrounding region offers more recreation, from the public 18-hole course at The Bridges Golf Club to watersports and camping at the expansive Codorus State Park, which is around 9 miles away. Drivers sprint around the short clay track at Lincoln Speedway every week from February through October. “When I was growing up, we’d go there a lot,” Boyle says. “That track is near and dear. People love their racing.”
New Oxford hosts popular summer and fall community events
Oxford Township residents are close to the many events that fill downtown New Oxford throughout the year. The annual Market on the Square, held each June, is a one-day street fair and farmers market showcasing locally made goods from crafts to produce, as well as antiques and collectibles. October is a big month for events, with the long-running New Oxford Antique Show followed by the Harvest Day Festival & Parade.
Oxford Township is car-dependent with a bus line nearby
Private vehicles are needed to get around Oxford Township and much of Adams County. Commuters have access to U.S. Route 30, which intersects with state Route 94 in the township’s northeast corner. Harrisburg and Baltimore , which are about 40 and 60 miles away, offer commercial flights out of Harrisburg International and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airports. Rabbit Transit buses stop nearby in New Oxford, connecting riders to destinations such as Gettysburg , less than 15 miles west, and UPMC Hanover, a full-service hospital around 5 miles southeast.
