I'm not sure higher property values make for a better location. Perhaps higher property values show more demand for or less supply of property, but all else being equal, I would think lower property values would make an area more attractive.
Both Starkville and Oxford have fairly low crime rates, which appear to be fairly comparable over the last few years, with Starkville being slightly higher, but not significantly so.
I have no knowledge about the quality of schools in either place.
All that said, I have not really spent much time in Oxford, so I don't really know enough about it to have a strong opinion. I do know a lot of people like it, and it seems like a nice enough place. However, Starkville appears to be fairly comparable to Oxford in a lot of ways and, while I think 20+ years ago Oxford probably was nicer than Starkville, that doesn't seem to be the case any more because Starkville has improved significantly over the past 15 years.