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Oxford, New Zealand

Canterbury · New Zealand

Oxford is a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand with a population of 2,240. Elevation: 801 ft (244 m). Average temperature: 51°F (10°C).

Data updated June 2026

2.2 /5.0
C Fair
2,240 Population 263/sq mi density
801 ft Elevation 244 meters
51°F Avg Temperature 10°C
38.1 in Annual Rain
Pacific / Auckland Timezone
$19,260 Median Income
C
Overall
2.2 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$19,260 median income, 1.9% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.3 / 5.0
$184,000 home value, $920/mo rent

Discover Oxford, New Zealand

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.

Full City Profile

About Oxford

Oxford

Oxford is a small town serving the farming community of North Canterbury, New Zealand. It is part of the Waimakariri District and is a linear town, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long. Oxford has won awards for the most beautiful village and the most beautiful toilet.

People

Population2,240
Median Age49.7 yrs
Density263/mi²

Economy

B
Median Income$19,260
Per Capita$19,260
Unemployment1.9%

Housing

F
Home Value$184,000
Rent$920
Ownership80.5%
Housing Units896

Climate

Avg Temp51°F (10°C)
Rain38.1 in/yr
Sunny Days267/yr
Elevation801 ft (244 m)
Population2,240
Population Density263 / sq mi
Elevation801 ft (244 m)
Coordinates-43.3000°, 172.1833°
TimezonePacific/Auckland
Country🇳🇿 New Zealand
State / ProvinceCanterbury
Average Temperature51°F (10°C)
January Average60°F (16°C)
July Average41°F (5°C)
Annual Precipitation38.1 inches (968 mm)
Annual Snowfall0.0 inches (0 cm)
Median Household Income$19,260
Median Age49.7 years

About Oxford

Oxford is a small town in New Zealand (Canterbury) with a population of 2,240. The city sits at an elevation of 801 feet (244 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 51°F (10°C). Temperatures range from 60°F in January to 41°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.1 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.

Oxford has a population of 2,240 with a density of 263 people per square mile, spread across 8.5 square miles. The median age is 49.7 years, 28% older than the national median of 38.9.

Population

2,240
Total Population
263
People / sq mi
49.7yrs
Median Age
28% above New Zealand avg
8.5mi²
Land Area

Language Spoken at Home

Other Languages 100.0%

Social Characteristics

Oxford vs New Zealand Average

The median household income in Oxford is $19,260, which is 74% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $19,260 (below the $39,052 national figure). The average weekly wage is $370, 74% lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate is 1.9% (below the 3.6% US average). The area has 206 business establishments.

Income: Oxford vs New Zealand

Commute Mode

Income

Median HH Income$19,260
74% below New Zealand avg
Per Capita Income$19,260
Avg Weekly Wage$370

Employment & Poverty

Unemployment1.9%
47% below New Zealand avg
Establishments (County)206

Business (County)

Tax & Cost of Living

Commute & Transportation

Walkability

The median home value in Oxford is $184,000, 35% below the national median of $281,900. Monthly rent averages $920 (21% below the national average of $1,163). 80.5% of housing units are owner-occupied (above the 65.4% national rate). There are 896 total housing units in the city. The home price-to-income ratio is 9.6x, making homeownership a significant financial stretch for most families.

Home Value Sources

Ownership Split

Home Values

Census Median$184,000
35% below New Zealand avg

Real Estate Market (Redfin)

Rental Costs

Census Median Rent$920
21% below New Zealand avg

Ownership & Property

Homeownership80.5%
Owner-Occupied80.5%
Renter-Occupied19.5%
Housing Units896

Property Tax

Climate in Oxford

Oxford has an average annual temperature of 11.7°C (53°F). The hottest month is Feb (16.3°C), the coldest is Jul (7°C). Average annual precipitation is 711 mm.

Month Avg °C / °F Min / Max °C Rain (mm)
Jan 16°C / 61°F 11.6° / 20.5° 41.2
Feb 16.3°C / 61°F 11.8° / 20.8° 58.1
Mar 14.4°C / 58°F 9.9° / 19° 50.9
Apr 12.1°C / 54°F 7.6° / 16.7° 61.5
May 10.2°C / 50°F 5.7° / 14.6° 86.6
Jun 7.6°C / 46°F 3.2° / 12° 73.4
Jul 7°C / 45°F 2.2° / 11.7° 60.3
Aug 8°C / 46°F 3.4° / 12.5° 88.9
Sep 9.6°C / 49°F 5° / 14.2° 39.2
Oct 11.2°C / 52°F 6.9° / 15.6° 45.8
Nov 12.8°C / 55°F 8.3° / 17.3° 41.4
Dec 14.8°C / 59°F 10.6° / 18.9° 63.5
Oxford experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winters average 60°F in January while summers reach 41°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 267 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 38.1 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 801 feet.

Temperature

60°F Jan (16°C) 41°F Jul (5°C)
Annual Average50.8°F
6% below New Zealand avg
January Average60°F (16°C)
July Average41°F (5°C)
Sunny Days267 days/yr

Geography

Elevation801 ft (244 m)
Area8.5 sq mi (22.1 km²)
Population Density263/sq mi
Coordinates-43.3000°N, 172.1833°W
TimezonePacific/Auckland

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.1"
0% below New Zealand avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jul) 3.54"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.64"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

713 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.0. Most recent: M3.0 on Aug 30, 2025.

Sep 3, 2010 19 km NE of Methven, New Zealand M7.0 38 km
Jun 18, 1994 56 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand M6.8 57 km
Nov 24, 1995 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand M6.2 47 km
Feb 21, 2011 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand M6.1 51 km
Feb 10, 1990 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand M6.0 118 km
Jun 19, 1994 40 km N of Methven, New Zealand M6.0 46 km
Jun 13, 2011 9 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.9 54 km
Jan 28, 1991 29 km SSE of Westport, New Zealand M5.9 149 km
Feb 14, 2016 12 km ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.8 52 km
Feb 10, 1990 90 km N of Amberley, New Zealand M5.7 111 km
Jan 5, 2015 43 km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand M5.6 82 km
Feb 22, 2011 7 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.6 48 km
Sep 19, 2023 Canterbury, New Zealand M5.5 97 km
Mar 30, 1992 57 km NNW of Methven, New Zealand M5.5 67 km
Feb 22, 2011 6 km SSE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.5 50 km
May 29, 1995 South Island of New Zealand M5.5 61 km
Jun 21, 1994 47 km N of Methven, New Zealand M5.4 49 km
Feb 15, 1991 38 km S of Westport, New Zealand M5.4 141 km
Jun 21, 2011 1 km SSE of Prebbleton, New Zealand M5.2 43 km
Jun 13, 2011 10 km ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand M5.2 56 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tsunami History

7 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.5 m (21 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
2016 OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND Earthquake 6.5 m 2 95 km
1895 PIEGON BAY Meteorological 5.0 m - 72 km
1881 PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) Earthquake 3.0 m - 72 km
1856 S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND Unknown 1.0 m - 79 km
1869 NEW ZEALAND Unknown 0.6 m - 119 km
1922 SE. NEW ZEALAND Earthquake 0.4 m - 74 km
1978 OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND Meteorological - - 68 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 60°F (16°C) 3.4 in Warmest
February 60°F (15°C) 2.6 in Driest
March 57°F (14°C) 3.4 in
April 52°F (11°C) 3.1 in
May 46°F (8°C) 3.4 in
June 42°F (5°C) 2.8 in
July 41°F (5°C) 3.5 in Coldest, Wettest
August 43°F (6°C) 3.5 in
September 47°F (8°C) 2.7 in
October 51°F (10°C) 3.5 in
November 54°F (12°C) 3.0 in
December 58°F (14°C) 3.2 in

Oxford has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 41°F in July to 60°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 38.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (3.5") and February the driest (2.6").

View full weather details →

Schools in Oxford

2 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
View Hill School - - - -
Oxford Area School - - - -
View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Oxford

9 stations within ~55 km.

Station Genre Quality
RDU 98.5FM - MP3 128 kbps
3ABN Christian Radio bible teaching, christian AAC+ 56 kbps
Anthemz - AAC 130 kbps
Akaroa World Radio easy listening AAC
XS80s 1980's, 1980s MP3 128 kbps
Dave FM 70s, 80s MP3 128 kbps
Power Hit FM 87.8 - Christchurch, NZ pop music, top 40 AAC+ 64 kbps
8K.NZ eclectic, independent MP3 192 kbps
RDU alternative MP3 128 kbps

Libraries in Oxford

NameAddressStaffAnnual VisitsCirculationCollectionPrograms
Darfield Library0.0
Darfield Library0.0

Hotels in Oxford

1 hotels within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

West Oxford Hotel

Restaurants in Oxford

2 restaurants within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Cruisy Days Diner
Indian Hut

Cafes in Oxford

1 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Café51

Veterinaries in Oxford

1 veterinaries within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Vetlife

Train Stations in Oxford

1 train stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Springfield

Gas Stations in Oxford

3 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Challenge!
G.A.S.
NZ #408754258

Golf Courses in Oxford

1 golf courses within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Waimakariri Golf Club

Ski Resorts Near Oxford

8 ski resorts within range.

Resort Slopes (km) Lifts Peak (m) Price Season Night Park
Mount Hutt Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Porters Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mount Olympus Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mount Cheeseman Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Mt Cheeseman Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Broken River Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Craigieburn Valley Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -
Temple Basin Ski Area 0.0 - - $0 - - -

Airports Near Oxford

16 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Christchurch International AirportCHCLarge Airport
Ashburton AirportASGSmall Airport
Culverden-Small Airport
Dunsandel-Small Airport
Fernside Fields Airpark-Small Airport
Forest Field Aerodrome-Small Airport
Hanmer Springs Aerodrome-Small Airport
Kings (Ladbrooks)-Small Airport
Lake Haupiri/Gloriavale Christian Community Airport-Small Airport
Mount Hutt Station Airstrip-Small Airport
Pudding Hill Aerodrome-Small Airport
Rangiora Airfield-Small Airport
Springfield Airport-Small Airport
Taitapu Ag strip-Small Airport
West Melton Aerodrome-Small Airport
Worthy Lodge airstrip (Ladbrooks)-Small Airport

Churches & Religious Organizations in Oxford

3 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).

NameAddress
Oxford District Union Parish
Oxford Seventh-Day Adventist Church
St Andrew's Anglican Church - Oxford

Explore Near Oxford

Meteorites
1
Confirmed meteorite landing sites recorded in NASA meteorite catalog
View all →
Waterfalls
1
Natural waterfalls documented by USGS and OpenStreetMap contributors
View all →

Quick Facts

Timezone
Pacific/Auckland

🇳🇿 About New Zealand

Capital Wellington
Population 4,885,500
Area 268,680 km²
GDP (USD) $255,194,972,673
GDP per capita $49,076
HDI 0.939
Life expectancy 83.0 years
Internet users 96.2%
Urban population 83.9%
Currency NZD (Dollar)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Calling code +64
TLD .nz
Driving side left

Public Holidays in New Zealand

23 public holidays this year

Date Holiday Local Name
Jan 1 New Year's Day New Year's Day
Jan 2 Day after New Year's Day Day after New Year's Day
Jan 19 Wellington Anniversary Day Wellington Anniversary Day
Jan 26 Auckland Anniversary Day Auckland/Northland Anniversary Day
Feb 2 Nelson Anniversary Day Nelson Anniversary Day
Feb 6 Waitangi Day Waitangi Day
Mar 9 Taranaki Anniversary Day Taranaki Anniversary Day
Mar 23 Otago Anniversary Day Otago Anniversary Day
Apr 3 Good Friday Good Friday
Apr 6 Easter Monday Easter Monday
Apr 7 Southland Anniversary Day Southland Anniversary Day
Apr 27 Anzac Day Anzac Day
Jun 1 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Jul 10 Matariki Matariki
Sep 28 Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day Dominion Day
Oct 23 Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day
Oct 26 Labour Day Labour Day
Nov 2 Marlborough Anniversary Day Marlborough Anniversary Day
Nov 13 Canterbury Anniversary Day Canterbury (North & Central) Anniversary Day
Nov 30 Chatham Islands Anniversary Day Chatham Islands Anniversary Day
Nov 30 Westland Anniversary Day Westland Anniversary Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day Christmas Day
Dec 28 Boxing Day Boxing Day

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Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Oxford.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Oxford

What is the population of Oxford?

Oxford has a population of 2,240 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 263 people per square mile, spread across 8.5 square miles. The median age of residents is 49.7 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years.

Is Oxford expensive to live in?

The median household income is $19,260, 74% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $184,000 (35% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $920 per month, below the national average of $1,163. The home price-to-income ratio is 9.6x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.

What is the weather like in Oxford?

Oxford has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winter temperatures average 60°F in January, while summers reach an average of 41°F in July. The area receives 267 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 38.1 inches.

How is the job market in Oxford?

The job market in Oxford is very strong, with unemployment at just 1.9% / well below the national rate of 3.6%. The average weekly wage is $370. There are 206 business establishments in the area.

How much does housing cost in Oxford?

The median home value in Oxford is $184,000. For renters, the median monthly rent is $920. The homeownership rate is 80.5%.

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