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Living in
Medford.
About
Life in Medford
Medford offers solid urban living with decent transit access—you've got Orange Line, Green Line, and commuter rail options, plus numerous bus routes—though expect a 30-minute average commute if you're heading into Boston proper. The median household income sits at $129,540 and median home values around $755,500, with rents averaging $2,509 monthly, making it pricier than many surrounding areas but more affordable than central Boston. The job market is healthy at 4.0% unemployment, and over half the population holds college degrees, partly driven by Tufts University's presence.
Medford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Foreign-Born
23.3%
Broadband Internet
92.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Medford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Medford, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (16.2%), and 9.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
12.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.8%
of households
Married Couples
40.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Medford
In Medford, rent runs 42% above the MA average, and home values are 34% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,286
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1942
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $817,090 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Medford
Unemployment in Medford is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Medford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.2 min avg
How Medford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Medford, most residents drive alone to work (48%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Medford runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
180.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
932.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Medford Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Medford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Medford is about 4% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Medford, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Medford is about 4% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Medford has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.4"
Annual Snowfall
49.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
92
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 23°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 39°F | 25°F | 3.21" |
| Mar | 46°F | 31°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 56°F | 41°F | 3.63" |
| May | 67°F | 50°F | 3.25" |
| Jun | 76°F | 60°F | 3.89" |
| Jul | 82°F | 66°F | 3.27" |
| Aug | 80°F | 65°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 73°F | 58°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 62°F | 48°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 3.66" |
| Dec | 42°F | 29°F | 4.30" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Medford
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Medford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Winchester
Cambridge Health Alliance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Cambridge
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Melrose
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Medford
Medford's student/teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 59.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Medford
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,061 students · in-state tuition $73,616 · 94% graduate · median earnings $89,187 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
8.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Medford
Medford has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
12 mi awayPublic Libraries in Medford
Charlotte And William Bloomberg Medford Public Library
111 High St., Medford
Cities Near Medford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Medford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Medford FAQ
Is Medford, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Medford's median rent is $2,509/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $129,540/year. Median home value is $755,500.
Is Medford, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Medford's violent crime rate was 181 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 933 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Medford, Massachusetts?⌄
Medford has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Medford, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Medford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,509/month and median household income is $129,540/year. The median home value is $755,500. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Medford, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Medford is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from