Brooklyn vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Brooklyn
Medford
The Verdict
Medford is 84.0% less expensive than Brooklyn overall. A household earning $75,000 in Brooklyn would need approximately $40,769 in Medford to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $40,769 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $137,972 in Brooklyn.
Living in Brooklyn vs Medford
Housing Costs
Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $406,000. The $374,000 difference in home prices means roughly $24,312 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $1,525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $513/month in Medford. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $388 in Medford. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 186 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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