City Report · MA

Medford

Pop. 59,354·4th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,626/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$1,694

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Medford · $3,626

More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Medford's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,626/mo

Expected by trend

$3,669/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Medford's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,470

1 BR

$2,620

2 BR

$3,100

3 BR

$3,730

4 BR+

$4,110

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,100/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,626 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Medford usually run 2.4% below trend in January and 2.1% above it in June, about $163 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Medford is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2016.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in Medford changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Medford rose 30.7% while median household income rose 34.3% ($96,455 to $129,540). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Medford is 33.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($129,540) is $3,239 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,100); a 3-bedroom is $3,730.

Cheaper nearby

Malden, 3 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,929/mo), about $8,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Medford. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$43,512/yr

At $3,626/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Medford, MA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 59.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

59,354

Median income

$129,540

Median age

35.9

Renters

45.9%

Age distribution

12.7%

35.6%

25.4%

15.2%

Under 1812.7%

18–3435.6%

35–5425.4%

55–6411.2%

65+15.2%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

67.9%

13.1%

White67.9%

Black6.7%

Hispanic8.7%

Asian13.1%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

18.1%

15.8%

59.8%

No HS diploma6.4%

HS diploma18.1%

Some college15.8%

Bachelor's+59.8%

Housing tenure

54.1%

45.9%

Owner54.1%

Renter45.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Medford, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,585 → $3,626

up 40.3%

Income

$107,853 → $129,540

up 20.1%

Population

60,708 → 59,354

down 2.2%

Renter share

45.5% → 45.9%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

55.7% → 59.8%

+4.1 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Medford, MA has shifted from $2,585 to $3,626, up 40.3% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $107,853 to $129,540 across the same window, up 20.1% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Medford, MA losing about 1,354 residents over the five-year window, down 2.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 55.7% to 59.8% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Medford, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Medford

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View Medford rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Medford on your salary?

At $3,626/mo, how Medford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 39.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 55.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 48.5% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 21.3% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 59.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 66.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 53.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Medford rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Medford. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Medford

About renting in Medford, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Medford is $3,626/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,470/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,100/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,620/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,730/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($129,540/yr), Medford ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Medford?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $145,000/year (about $70/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,626/mo in Medford. The local median household income is $129,540/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Medford?

Rent in Medford has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2016.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Medford?

Asking rents in Medford are usually lowest in January, about 2.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 2.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $163 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Medford?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Medford rose 30.7% while median household income rose 34.3%, from $96,455 to $129,540. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does Medford rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Medford is one of the pricier among Massachusetts cities for rent, ranking #4 of 107 tracked cities at $3,626/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Medford changed +2.8%, against a typical +2.8% across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks.