What it's like to live in Medford
Medford is a smaller city in Oregon with commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Medford deals with home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Short commutes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Medford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Medford
Based on Medford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,752
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,040 a year
- 55% of Medford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$83,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,710
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,376/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,376 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $417,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $417,100 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 33% above US
5.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 23% above US
406 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3722/100k · Medford Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 36% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.6 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 16% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
22 public schools inside the boundary
There are 22 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve (32 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Medford's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,376/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Medford
All Oregon guides →Moving to Central Point →
4 mi away · pop. 19,216
Rent $1,364/mo · Income $86,058
Compare with Medford →Moving to Grants Pass →
25 mi away · pop. 39,311
Rent $1,217/mo · Income $59,646
Compare with Medford →Not sure Medford is the one?
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