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Oxford Town Hall.

Living in Oxford, Massachusetts

Oxford is a town in Worcester County that sits in a valley along the French River, first colonized in 1687 when Robert Thompson brought a group of French Huguenot settlers to the land, and officially incorporated in 1713. It's the birthplace of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, whose family homestead still stands on Clara Barton Road. The town is crossed by Interstate 395 and Routes 12, 20, and 56.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, Public domain

Oxford at a glance

Oxford's zip code

Oxford uses a single ZIP code, 01540, for the whole town.

Oxford villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Oxford center01540Along Main Street, where Town Hall and the downtown business district are located.

Things to do in Oxford, MA

Start with Clara Barton Birthplace Museum and Huguenot Fort site.

  1. Clara Barton Birthplace Museum

    The 1818 Cape-style homestead where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born and lived until 1853. Restored to its period appearance and run as a house museum, open seasonally or by appointment.

    Seasonal

    60 Clara Barton Rd, Oxford, MA

  2. Huguenot Fort site

    The site of a fort built after the 1694 Johnson Massacre to protect Oxford's early French Huguenot settlers, marking the town's earliest colonial history.

    FreeYear-round

    Oxford, MA

A little history

Robert Thompson arranged for 52 French Huguenot settlers to colonize Oxford beginning in 1687, and the town was officially incorporated in 1713.

In 1694, an attack later called the Johnson Massacre killed four colonists, leading settlers to build the Huguenot Fort for protection.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born in Oxford in 1821; her family homestead on Clara Barton Road is preserved as a museum.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Oxford

Oxford sits in the valley of the French River, which floods parts of town and shapes its low-lying land.

  • French RiverRuns through Oxford's valley, historically powering local mills.

Walkability and getting around Oxford

Oxford's town center along Main Street has sidewalks near Town Hall and nearby businesses, but most of the town, including areas along Route 12, Route 20, and I-395, is built for driving.

Check any Oxford address

Drive times

  • Worcester, about 12 miles20-25 min
  • Worcester Regional Airport, about 12 miles20-25 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Oxford has no MBTA commuter rail station; the nearest is in Worcester.

Oxford property taxes

Oxford's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.23 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.54. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,223 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,192, on an average assessed value of $424,557.

Oxford's FY2026 tax rates

$12.23per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$12.23 per $1,000
  • Commercial, industrial, personal property$14.54 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$424,557
  • Average single-family tax bill$5,192
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Oxford property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$16.16
FY2023$13.64
FY2024$13.48
FY2025$12.67
FY2026$12.23

Look up a Oxford property

Buying a home in Oxford

What we check on a Oxford purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, title 5 septic, french river flood plain.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Oxford sits in the valley of the French River, and much of the town's area lies in the river's flood plain, putting many low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Oxford
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Oxford Fire Department before the sale closes.

Foundations

Ask about foundation testing

The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Oxford among the towns at moderate risk from pyrrhotite, a mineral linked to crumbling concrete foundations, based on distance from the Connecticut quarry that supplied the concrete. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.

UMass pyrrhotite guide
Title 5 septic

Septic systems outside sewer areas

Town sewer service covers parts of Oxford through the DPW Sewer Division, but outlying parcels may rely on septic systems, which need a Title 5 inspection through the Board of Health before a sale.

French River flood plain

Much of Oxford sits in the French River flood plain

Oxford sits in a valley, and much of its area lies in the flood plain of the French River. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property here.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Oxford?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Oxford address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Oxford: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Oxford: National Grid for power.

Town Hall offices and contacts

Oxford Town Hall is at 325 Main St, Oxford, MA 01540. Hours: Mon, Tue 9 AM-5 PM; Wed 9 AM-7 PM; Thu 9 AM-5 PM; Fri 9 AM-12:30 PM.

Oxford, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Oxford, MA?

Oxford's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.23 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.54. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Oxford?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,892 a year at $12.23 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Oxford have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $12.23 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.54.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Oxford?

The average single-family tax bill in Oxford was $5,192 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $424,557.

What county is Oxford, MA in?

Oxford is in Worcester County, Massachusetts.

What ZIP code does Oxford use?

Oxford uses a single ZIP code, 01540, for the whole town.

Does Oxford have curbside trash pickup?

Yes, through licensed private haulers; the town does not run its own trash collection service.

Who supplies electricity in Oxford?

National Grid delivers electricity in Oxford; the town also runs a Community Electricity aggregation program for the supply portion of the bill.

Is there a train station in Oxford?

No. Oxford has no MBTA commuter rail station; the nearest is in Worcester.

What is the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum?

It's the restored 1818 homestead on Clara Barton Road where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born and lived until 1853. It's open seasonally or by appointment.

Towns near Oxford

Neighbors of Oxford, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources