CostIndexUSA

Medford, OR vs Portland, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOR
Medford
101.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Medford and Portland have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+7.7%
Medford
97.7
Portland
105.2
🛒 Groceries7.7%
Medford
105.3
Portland
97.2
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Medford
105.3
Portland
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Medford
95.3
Portland
98
Utilities+31.6%
Medford
102.3
Portland
134.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Medford to see what you'd need to earn in Portland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Portland, ME
$80,400
$400 more needed in Portland

Formula: salary × (101.9 ÷ 101.4) = salary × 1.0049. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Medford, OR

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

Portland has 7.7% higher housing costs compared to Medford.

Income & Job Market

Medford, OR

Median Household Income
$71,700
Per Capita Income
$40,900
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
85,824
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureRetailManufacturingTourism

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Medford, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.