Is Burgess safe?
Oxford, Mississippi · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Burgess as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Burgess
“Go. Burgess is a quiet, sparsely populated rural community west of Oxford with exceptionally low rates of violent crime. While safe and tranquil, visitors will need a vehicle for all errands and activities, as the area offers very little commercial infrastructure.”
About the area
Burgess is a semi-rural residential community situated in western Lafayette County along the Highway 6 corridor. It features sprawling wooded lots, family homes, and open farmland, offering a calm respite just a short drive from the University of Mississippi campus.
- Rural & Quiet
- Car-Dependent
- Wooded & Spacious
- Peaceful
Walking and biking in Burgess
Walk score: 8/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, trails, or bike-share stations; cycling is strictly on rural highway shoulders and is recommended only for experienced distance road cyclists.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low rates of violent crime and minimal property crime compared to national averages
- Peaceful, low-density rural setting with abundant green space and acreage
- Easy highway access via US-278/MS-6 directly into downtown Oxford and the Ole Miss campus
- High rates of single-family homeownership and stable residential tenure
Cons
- Virtually zero pedestrian infrastructure with no sidewalks or streetlights along rural roads
- Completely car-dependent with no retail, grocery, or dining options within walking distance
- Longer emergency services response times compared to the Oxford city center
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Burgess, as the area is strictly rural and residential with services concentrated in regional urban hubs.
What Burgess is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and quiet, with light local commuter traffic along Highway 6.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are serene and safe, though narrow rural roads lack walking shoulders.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings settle into quiet darkness with minimal activity outside private properties.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights are pitch-black and peaceful, with negligible crime risk but absolute darkness requiring vehicle navigation.
Transit, parking and getting around
There is no public transit service operating in Burgess; the Oxford-University Transit (OUT) system only serves the Oxford municipal area and the Ole Miss campus.
Parking is completely unrestricted and free, with private driveways and ample off-street parking throughout the area.
Things to do in Burgess
- Take a scenic drive through the rolling hills and rural landscapes of western Lafayette County
- Visit Sardis Lake nearby for boating, fishing, and outdoor recreation at Clear Creek Recreation Area
- Make the 15-minute drive into the historic Oxford Square for boutique shopping and award-winning dining
Local favorites
- Ajax Diner · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (1850)Iconic Oxford Square eatery serving generous portions of classic meat-and-three Southern comfort food.
- Clear Creek Golf Course · Golf Course · 4.4★ (160)Scenic public golf course operated near Sardis Lake just northwest of the community.
- Bolen's Grocery · Convenience & Country Store · 4.5★ (45)Nearby country outpost offering quick snacks, cold drinks, fuel, and casual local chatter.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.