College Station vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Medford
The Verdict
College Station is 17.9% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $91,379 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 College Station has the same purchasing power as $91,379 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $61,557 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Medford
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $406,000. The $92,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $513/month in Medford. College Station offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 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 $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,708/month in Medford. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. 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 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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