Oxford, MS · standard
ZIP Code 38655
Lafayette County, Mississippi - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 36,699
- 37/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $68,235
- Median income Near-median income area
- $340,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 51.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Oxford pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 44th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 28%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 37
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38655 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 38655 (Oxford, MS) rose +10.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 246.7 in 2023 to 272.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 38655 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, with 36,699 residents across 997.3 square miles, a density of 37 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 38655 reports a modest median household income of $68,235 (30% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,492. The poverty rate is 19.4%, with unemployment at 2.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $340,000 (153% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while 60.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,090.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 51.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.7, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Lafayette County, so 38655 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 38655
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Oxford, MS
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38655.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
226 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
193 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
187 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
158 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
125 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 38655, Oxford, MS · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
36,699
Population
997.3
Area (sq mi)
37
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 38655?
32.7
Median Age
47.3%
Male
52.7%
Female
3.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$68,235
Median Household Income
+30% vs state ZIP avg
$41,492
Per Capita Income
19.4%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment Rate
22.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38655 ranks nationally
Oxford, MS household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$68,235 44th percentile higher than 44% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
25,415housing units
25,415
Total Housing Units
16,685
Occupied Units
8,730
Vacant Units
2.73
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$340,000
Median Home Value
+153% vs state ZIP avg
$1,090
Median Rent
2000
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+10.3%
YoY Change (2024)
272
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+172%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 38655 have increased 10.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +172% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.3% | 178 |
| 2021 | +6.6% | 189 |
| 2022 | +14.2% | 216 |
| 2023 | +14.2% | 247 |
| 2024 | +10.3% | 272 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,348 business establishments in ZIP 38655, employing approximately 18,301 people with a combined annual payroll of $790,353,000.
1,348
Businesses
18,301
Employees
$790.4M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 226 | 16.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 193 | 14.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 187 | 13.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 158 | 11.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 125 | 9.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 102 | 7.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 79 | 5.9% |
| Construction | 73 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 58 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 33 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 30 | 2.2% |
| Information | 27 | 2.0% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 1.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 9 | 0.7% |
| Utilities | 8 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 38655 vs 38677 →
ZIP 38655 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38655
Oxford (38655)
36,699 residents
- 38677 4,198
University (38677)
4,198 residents
- 38601 2,371
Abbeville (38601)
2,371 residents
- 38673 746
Taylor (38673)
746 residents
- 38949 297
Paris (38949)
297 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38655 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38655 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38673
Taylor (38673)
$92,350 median income
- 38655
Oxford (38655)
$68,235 median income
- 38601
Abbeville (38601)
$47,941 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 38655 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 38655, both outside MS so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (36,699 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lafayette County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 38655 in?
ZIP code 38655 (Oxford) is located in Lafayette County, Mississippi. Lafayette County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lafayette-ms.
What is the population of ZIP code 38655?
ZIP code 38655 in Oxford, MS has a population of 36,699 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38655?
The median household income in ZIP 38655 is $68,235, which is 11% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38655?
The median home value in ZIP 38655 is $340,000, which is 22% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38655?
The largest racial group in ZIP 38655 is White at 69.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38655?
ZIP code 38655 has 1,348 business establishments employing approximately 18,301 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38655?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38655 are: Retail trade (226), Health care and social assistance (193), Accommodation and food services (187). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38655?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38655 increased by 10.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 172%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 38655?
In ZIP code 38655, 67.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 51.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 38655?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38655 is 22.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 38655?
In ZIP code 38655, approximately 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38655?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38655 is 19.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 38655's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38655 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Oxford, MS ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.