The tight-knit, artsy town of Water Valley
Described as an “artsy little town” by resident and Realtor Sherry Fischer, Water Valley sits less than 20 miles south of Oxford, the college town that’s home to the University of Mississippi. Fischer says that Oxford has some of the state’s highest housing prices, so people wander south of the city and stumble upon Water Valley. This tight-knit small town keeps itself busy with events like street dances, music festivals and a Watermelon Carnival each summer. “People like it being more laidback and lowkey and having less traffic than in Oxford,” she says. “It’s a close-knit community. I was born and raised here with generational families and friends - my parents’ friends, my friends – we all kind of grew up together. That’s just what Water Valley offers.”
Single-family homes at lower prices than in Oxford
Bungalows, ranch-style homes and farmhouses typically sell for prices between $100,000 and $600,000. Creeks and streams throughout the community mean that many properties here are at a high risk of flooding. Residential streets often lack sidewalks and curbs. Fischer says that prices in neighboring Lafayette County are some of the highest in the state and that people move to Water Valley for lower housing prices. She says Water Valley has experienced growth, and with that, an increase in housing prices. “The prices are rising by the day,” she says. “They’ll always be less than Oxford’s, though.”
Water Valley School District and the University of Mississippi
Water Valley School District gets an overall B grade from Niche. Preschool through sixth graders attend the B-rated Davidson Elementary School, and seventh through twelfth graders attend the B-minus-rated Water Valley High School. CTE programs at WVHS include early childhood education, law and public safety, health science and more. Less than 20 miles away, the University of Mississippi is a public university enrolling about 25,000 students annually.
City parks and recreation on Enid Lake
City Park and Baker Street Park have playgrounds and grassy areas for families to enjoy. Enid Lake has several parks on its shore, including George P. Cossar State Park, popular for fishing, picnics and camping. The lake is also home to Water Valley Landing, a campground where visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and boating.
Mexican and Cajun food and shopping for groceries locally
El Charrito’s is a casual local restaurant serving large plates of Mexican fare. Crawdad Hole serves Cajun food in a casual dining room and on a patio. Hometown Pizza Café serves pizza and wings alongside inventive sides like Philly chicken fries. The B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery sells fresh, local groceries alongside coffee and lunch in its café. Larson’s Cash Saver is the town’s supermarket, and Family Dollar and Dollar General provide access to other household goods.
The Watermelon Carnival and the Casey Jones Music Fest
Approximately 20,000 attendees flock to Water Valley’s annual Watermelon Carnival each August. The weekend-long festival kicks off on Friday with a street dance, a ritual described by Fischer as a Water Valley tradition where the street’s blocked off to traffic so everyone can dance. Parades, car shows, food vendors and arts and crafts booths fill the rest of the weekend. In the spring, the Casey Jones Music Fest brings in local musicians for an all-day lineup of free live music. “People bring their lawn chairs and so forth or come in their convertibles and park around the stage and listen to the music,” Fischer says. The Water Valley Arts Council hosts the annual Water Valley Art Crawl featuring the work of local artists.
A hospital in town, nearby Oxford and a regional airport
Water Valley is located less than 20 miles from Oxford, home to the University of Mississippi. Residents can access medical care in town through Yalobusha Health Services’ hospital and clinics. About 60 miles away, Tupelo Regional Airport offers flights to Dallas and Nashville.
