Cost of Living in Medford
Medford's cost of living runs genuinely high on the housing side -- the highest in this Massachusetts Tier B batch -- but its comparatively low underlying property tax rate offsets some of that cost.
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Learn moreThe most expensive housing in this batch
Zillow's average home value ran $855,081 (June 2026, +1.8% YoY), with a comparatively tight spread against the July 2026 median list price (~$833,000) and Redfin's median sale price (~$820,000) (base record).
A comparatively low property tax rate offsetting high home values
Medford's residential property tax rate is cited at $8.63-$8.80 per $1,000 of assessed value -- among the lowest rates in Middlesex County -- which, applied against the $855,081 average home value, implies an approximate $7,456 annual bill, below Massachusetts's own $7,838 statewide average despite Medford's high home values (base record).
A genuinely high household income base
Medford's median household income ran $129,540 in 2024 -- the highest documented in this batch -- with a disclosed poverty rate of 7.61%, below the national average (base record).
Massachusetts's statewide flat 5% income tax applies identically
Massachusetts's real flat 5% income tax (plus the 4% surtax above $1,107,750 of taxable income) applies the same in Medford as anywhere else in the state -- see massachusetts.js.
Key takeaways
- Medford's average home value ($855,081) is the highest of this Massachusetts Tier B batch.
- Medford's comparatively low property tax rate (~0.87%) keeps the implied bill (~$7,456) below Massachusetts's own statewide average.
- Median household income ($129,540, 2024) is the highest documented in this batch, with a below-average poverty rate.
- Massachusetts's flat 5% income tax applies statewide, not as a Medford-specific cost.
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