The founder of the American Red Cross, Nurse Clara Barton, was born in Oxford. Her home, and representations of her many works to improve the lives of others, are now a National Historic Site.
Oxford is located in south central Massachusetts, in the county of Worcester
The founder of the American Red Cross, Nurse Clara Barton, was born in Oxford. Her home, and representations of her many works to improve the lives of others, are now a National Historic Site.
Oxford is located in south central Massachusetts, in the county of Worcester. There were about 6,100 residents in this census designated place (CDP) of the city center which consists of about 3.5 square miles of land. The greater town of Oxford is home to about 13,700 people according to the 2010 census and takes up a whopping 26.5 square miles. Some of this large amount of land is owned by the state and is used to manage the flood plain, but there is plenty more to go around! Oxford may seem like it's "out there", but in reality, it's in a perfect spot. With easy access to the larger cities of Hartford and Boston, Oxford has options. Nearby Worcester is plenty large enough and even provides for air travel with its own airport. And that scenery! Lakes abound out there in central Massachusetts -- you may just feel like you're always on vacation!
Here's the thing: finding rental property in Oxford can be a little bit tricky, mostly because there is not often a lot available. Apartment complexes are pretty much non-existent, but you can find a couple of small apartment buildings. Most of the rentals in Oxford will be either single-family homes or apartments in homes.
Because of the limited supply, it's best to start your search four to six weeks or more ahead of your planned move date. This gives you the current month and then, if nothing turns up, you have the next month's turnover to choose from also. Be prepared to spend a few weeks scouring the Internet and the local paper for apartment rentals and rental homes, though!
Because most of the rental agreements are private, you don't usually have to fill out an application. You will certainly have to come up with the first and last month's rent though and probably a security deposit. Some landlords may ask for references from previous landlords too so it's best to already have those names and numbers handy. Pets can generally be negotiated and may cost extra. Spot or Spike may even have to provide their own pet reference from your previous landlord!
Both the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) and Route 20 pass through the northern part of the town, making an easy commute. Worcester is less than twelve miles away and Boston is a little over an hour. The main north-south routes are Route 12, Main Street and the newer Route 395 that runs down to New London, Connecticut. From there, you can catch the ferry over to Long Island! Oxford's strategic location makes New England seen small and accessible.
City Center: Here is where you will find the most places to rent in Oxford. Most residents live around the center of town and you can find studio apartments for rent or one bedroom apartments in some of the larger single-family homes in the downtown area. If you live here, you will be close to all the restaurants like the Happy Garden and the Whistle Stop Bar & Grill. The Market Basket grocery store is also in this area -- super convenient.
North Oxford: The pickings are much slimmer in the northern part of town. Your best bet here is a single-family home for rent. There is also a mobile home park in the area and one condo complex called Thayer Pond Village. If you choose to unpack your suitcases there, you'll be close to Route 20 and the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Oxford is an example of quintessential small-town living. Though it's easy to get to the city for nightlife, theater and restaurants, Oxford provides everything basic you might need in day-to-day life.
The Oxford Community Center is quite actively involved with keeping residents busy, healthy and entertained. The center enriches the lives of residents by providing a range of classes and activities for all ages including, babysitting classes for teenagers, computer classes for everyone, and a reasonably priced fitness center complete with classes, cardio machines and free-weight rooms.
It's easy to get some outdoor time in in Oxford. Even in winter, there are plenty of trails and hikes through the surrounding woodlands and around the lakes and ponds. Buffumville Lake and Hodges Village Dam are nice areas to explore. Hodges Village Dam has over 15 miles of trails and the area has many different activities including beach and boating facilities and a 27-hole PDGA-approved disc golf course where you can chuck Frisbees to your heart's content. You can't help but love a town whose mission is to promote happiness, build unity and self-esteem and community pride with the goal of reducing crime and creating happier and healthier citizens.
