What is the cost of living in Medford, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Medford has an overall cost of living index of 162, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Medford has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Medford ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Medford ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Medford, check out:
Medford Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Medford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Medford is 108.
The Groceries index in Medford is 116.
The Health index in Medford is 272.
The Housing index in Medford is 113.
The Transportation index in Medford is 120.
The Utilities index in Medford is 115.
| Living Expense | Medford | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 162 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 272 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Medford Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Medford, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Medford is $842,297.
The Median Rent in Medford is $2,509.
The Median Income in Medford is $129,540.
The Home Value To Income in Medford is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Medford is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Medford | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $842,297 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,509 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $129,540 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Medford, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Medford Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Medford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Medford Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Medford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Medford Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Medford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Medford Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Medford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Medford Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Medford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Medford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Medford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Medford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cambridge, MA has a cost of living index of 204, 1.3x Medford.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.3x Medford.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.1x Medford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.3x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.3x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 1.1x |
| Malden, MA | 65,906 | 150 | 0.9x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Everett, MA | 50,045 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Chelsea, MA | 39,908 | 134 | 0.8x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.3x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.3x |
