re: 100 Most Liveable Cities in America (2026)

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FYI: Oxford, MS is currently around 27k in population.

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Yep. The 75,000 minimum population threshold hurts Mississippi in this particular ranking because the state only has 2 cities (Jackson and Gulfport) that meet/exceed the 75,000 mimimum population threshold.

Ironically, Oxford's population was also a factor in being left off the U..S. News & World Report's list of the Top 250 places to live in America in 2026. For some reason USNWR used 2020 U.S. Census population data (instead of 2025 data) when Oxford's 2020 population was just barely under the minimum 25k population threshold needed for consideration on the U.S News ranking of the 250 best places to live in the U.S.. Oxford s 's population has grown to almost 28,000 as of 2025.

That same 25k minimum population threshold being based on 2020 population data (instead of on 2025 data) also kept cities like Madison, MS and Fairhope, AL which are similar iin both size and growth rate off the list while cities like Mountain Brook, AL and John's Creek, GA both have average home prices that exceed the $500,000 maximum threshold for consideration in this ranking