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Buying a home in Medford, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Medford is worth about $755,500, 34% above the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 2.3 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,286 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of their home's value, lower than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $129,540 a year, so the median home costs 5.8 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 54% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Medford at a glance

Medford Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $755,500 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $6,286 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.83% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $129,540 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 54% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 63% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,036 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.4% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $2,509 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.6% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1942 1964 1980
Vacant homes 4.9% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 59,354 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Medford

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Medford home of $755,500 with 20% down costs about $4,903 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $6,283, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $210,137 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 45% of the median Medford household income of $129,540; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $466,000.

The median rent here is $2,509 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,394 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$151,100
Loan amount$604,400
Principal and interest$4,066
Property taxes (0.83% a year)$523
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$315
PMI$0
Total per month$4,903

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$26,442
Loan amount$741,816
Principal and interest$4,990
Property taxes (0.83% a year)$523
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$315
FHA mortgage insurance$456
Total per month$6,283

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Questions about home buying in Medford

What is the median home value in Medford?

About $755,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Medford?

Homeowners pay a median $6,286 a year, which is about 0.83% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Medford?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,903 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $210,137 a year.

More about Medford

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data