What Is The Cost Of Living In Medford, OR?

A bottle of pinot noir, juicy pears, and rich blue cheese, what could be more appetizing than that? These delicious delights are grown and made with love and pride in the small city of Medford, Oregon. Relocating to Medford will ensure a steady supply of wine & cheese, but how much does it cost to live there?

On a cost of living scale that holds a US average of 100, Medford rates 100.6. This number indicates that it costs slightly higher to live in Medford than elsewhere in the US. However, Oregon scores at a high 113.1, making Medford cheaper to live in than other cities in the state.

Before you make the move to Medford, find out whether the city agrees with your wallet. Check out the cost of housing, taxes, utilities, and groceries before deciding that Medford is the right place for you.

Whether buying or renting, inevitably, housing costs take up the bulk of your budget. The median price for a home in Medford is $330,317, significantly higher than the US average of $266,104. The homeownership rate is 63%, with the remaining 37% allotted as rental properties.

The most expensive neighborhood in Medford is Rogue Valley, with houses selling, on average, at $579,900. West Main is the most affordable neighborhood, with homes going for a median price of $150,000.

Medford residents are fortunate that they do not have to pay a sales tax on anything. This holds true for the entire state of Oregon. However, the state compensates with a high property tax rate of 0.90%, with the US average standing at 1.07%

Aside from high property taxes, Oregonians pay more in income taxes than most US states. The state places fourth on the list of highest income taxes, falling behind California, Hawaii, and New Jersey, consecutively.

On the cost of living index, Medford comes slightly above the national average of 100 with a score of 100.5.

Standard food costs, including grocery shopping and dining out, amount to about 11% of your entire income. This translates to setting aside $605/month for food for an individual making an annual net income of $50,000.

While there are many restaurants in town, Medford isn’t exactly known for its exciting cuisine. However, one culinary achievement Medford can lay claim to is that it produces some of the world’s best blue cheese.

There are a total of 40 public and private pre-K, elementary, grade, and high schools in Medford, Oregon. The average private school tuition is $8,322 for elementary and $12,161 for high schools. Grace Cascade Christian School in Medford ranks 14th in a list of top 20 schools in the state.

The average college tuition in Oregon is $7,262 for in-state students and $15,693 for out-of-state students. Reed College in bigger, busier Portland commands the highest tuition fee at an average of $58,440/student.

Also in Portland is the University of Western States, considered the cheapest tuition in Oregon, costing only $9,449/student.

There are several niche community colleges in Medford geared explicitly towards beauty and trade. Venture out towards neighboring Ashland and Klamath Falls to choose from a broader selection of schools and courses.

Related Questions

Is it safe to live in Medford?

The chances of a Medford resident being a victim of property or violent crime is one in 18. With a crime rate of 56 per 1,000 residents, Medford has one of the country’s highest crime rates. Compared to New York City’s rate of 21 per 1,000 residents, Medford is not considered a safe city. One factor in the city’s rising crime rates is the startling increase of downtown homeless encampments and illegal drug usage.  A slow but steady trickling of old-time Medford families has uprooted themselves for safer cities like Newberg-Dundee and West Linn.

Is Medford an integrated city?

In a small city of about 80,000 residents, 77.9% are white.  Hispanics come in second with about 14% of the population, and blacks make up less than 1%.  Asians, Native Americans,  residents of mixed race, and others comprise the remaining 8%. 

What is the climate in Medford?

Medford gets an annual rainfall of 23 inches compared to the US average of 38 inches per year. Residents enjoy an average of 195 sunny days in a year, with about 3 inches of snowfall during the winter months. The summers are mild, with an average high of 90°F.