One Mississippi college town has even more to brag about.
This hub of art, culture, great food and sports has already been racking up honors this year. So far, it was named among the most charming small towns in America, its town square was one of the best in the U.S. and it was noted as an excellent place to retire.
Travel + Leisure has named a small city in the Magnolia State among the 25 best college cities and towns in the US.
Which Mississippi college town did Travel + Leisure name one of the best?
“The University of Mississippi can be found in the tiny town of Oxford, where almost half the population is made up of undergrads,” Travel + Leisure wrote.
The writers highlighted the Square, which USA Today called one of Top 5 best public squares in the country. The landmark is surrounded by Square Books and restaurants, including City Grocery, St. Leo, Ajax and Tico’s.
“Ole Miss is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country with lots of 19th-century Greek Revival architecture like William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak, which is open for tours through the university museum,” Travel + Leisure wrote.
They also flagged it as the best small town on the list.
What is Oxford, Mississippi known for?
The city, with a population of 27,000, is between Clarksdale and Tupelo and south of Memphis. It’s known for literature, football and excellent food.
World-famous author Faulkner lived there and wrote about it as Yoknapatawpha County. More recently, best-selling author John Grisham called it home.
HGTV named Oxford one of the the most charming small towns in America earlier this year.
World Atlas also listed it among the South’s 12 best towns to retire. It noted Oxford is affordable with access to college football and a thriving culture, including art and dining options. It’s also close to places to spend time outdoors, enjoying nature.
What are the best 25 college, university towns in the US?
According to Travel + Leisure, these are the best 25 college towns and cities for 2025.
- Boston.
- Oxford, Mississippi.
- Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Boulder, Colorado.
- Austin.
- Lynchburg, Virginia.
- Madison, Wisconsin.
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
- Columbia, Missouri.
- Tempe, Arizona.
- Iowa City.
- Gainesville, Florida.
- Athens, Georgia.
- Lawrence, Kansas.
- Providence, Rhode Island.
- Tallahassee, Florida.
- Berkeley, California.
- Provo, Utah.
- Eugene, Oregon.
- Syracuse, New York.
- Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Burlington, Vermont.
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Hartford, Connecticut.
- Ithaca, New York.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
