Rents are 3% below what Medford's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,728 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Medford usually run 0.5% below trend in December and 0.4% above it in April, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Medford is 0.5% below its high of $1,736 in May 2026, at $1,728 as of September 2026.
Rent in Medford changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 Oregon cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.9%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($73,230) is $1,831 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,430); a 3-bedroom is $2,005.
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.
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Who lives here
Medford, OR is majority owner-occupied, 30.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Medford, OR has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Medford, OR has increased from $1,387 to $1,728, a 24.6% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Medford, OR now reports about $73,230, up from $57,424 in 2021. The population has grown by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 84,894 residents to roughly 86,315. Renters now make up 43.7% of households, compared with 45.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 30.1% of adults here, versus 27.1% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Medford, OR reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Medford on your salary?
At $1,728/mo, how Medford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Medford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Medford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Medford
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Medford is $1,728/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $980/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,430/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,115/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,005/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($73,230/yr), Medford ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Medford?
At $1,728/mo, rent takes ~28% of Medford's median household income ($73,230/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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