Middlesex County · Boston-Cambridge-Newton · population 59,898
Where Medford stands
At or near all-time high.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 21.4 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Medford. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Medford has held up across the cycle: home values at $846,061 with +4.1% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Medford carries a $846,061 median home with only +0.5% YoY. Premium pricing in a flat tape is the bear setup — you're paying for the trend that already ran while new buyers can't afford to extend it.
About Medford
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with an estimated population of 59,898. It anchors the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. The median home value in Medford is $846,061 as of 2026-04, up 0.5% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Medford average $3,297 per month, up 3.7% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Medford (Wikipedia)
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, Medford's population was 59,659. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus on both sides of the Medford and Somerville border.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Middlesex County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Middlesex County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Medford
Run the numbers for Medford
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Medford listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Medford Police Investigating Vehicle Break-in EpidemicPatch · 13h ago
- JOSEPH GAGLIARDI Obituary (2026) – Medford, MA – Boston GlobeLegacy · 1d ago
- 64 Salem St Unit 2-01, Medford, MA 02155Realtor.com · 3d ago
- So, You Want to Live in Medford, Massachusetts?Boston Magazine · 2mo ago
- Medford, Massachusetts Catholic school closing after nearly 100 years: "Tears came to my eyes"CBS News · 2mo ago
- 1 person taken to hospital after Medford house fire that had smoke visible for milesNBC Boston · 2mo ago
Local chatter (Reddit)
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Medford
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.