Population 57,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Medford: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Medford
Household size in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Medford run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.37 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.2 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Medford is 38.0 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 39.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only 24 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Medford: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Medford
Renters in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.3% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.5% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.4% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Medford than nationally: 45.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Medford than nationally: 7.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Boston area. Compared with other Massachusetts cities, though, Medford has a higher vacancy rate than most.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1950 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Medford is a place of older homes: half were built before 1950, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,280 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,366 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,701 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,421 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,141 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Medford costs $2,421 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,141 a month since 2006–10, up 89%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Medford
Bachelor's degrees in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.6% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.1% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.6% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Medford: 59.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 18.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Medford is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Medford
| Period | Medford | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Medford runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Medford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medford | 2.42 | 38.0 | 7.9% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1950 | $2,421 | 59.6% | 94.1% | 3.9% |
| Somerville | 2.27 | 32.9 | 3.9% | 65.7% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,529 | 70.5% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
| Malden | 2.57 | 36.9 | 10.4% | 58.7% | 8.9% | 1955 | $2,246 | 46.0% | 85.9% | 4.7% |
| Everett | 2.95 | 36.8 | 16.4% | 62.8% | 9.1% | 1949 | $2,022 | 24.7% | 77.7% | 5.0% |
| Arlington | 2.41 | 42.6 | 5.2% | 38.4% | 5.6% | 1947 | $2,047 | 76.9% | 98.1% | 2.8% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Winchester | 2.82 | 43.4 | 6.6% | 18.3% | 3.0% | 1952 | $2,573 | 79.9% | 97.0% | 3.9% |
| Charlestown | 2.14 | 36.7 | 9.4% | 49.3% | 6.3% | 1954 | $2,333 | 72.5% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Melrose | 2.44 | 44.6 | 6.4% | 32.8% | 4.0% | 1947 | $2,138 | 63.2% | 95.6% | 3.3% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 44.3 | 7.1% | 34.7% | 5.9% | 1946 | $2,468 | 80.9% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wheaton, IL · Royal Oak, MI · Midwest City, OK · Mishawaka, IN · Altoona, PA · Mount Juliet, TN · National City, CA · New Baltimore, MI · Owings Mills, MD · Palm Beach Gardens, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Medford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.