Lincoln vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lincoln
Medford
The Verdict
Lincoln is 12.3% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lincoln would need approximately $85,484 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 Lincoln has the same purchasing power as $85,484 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $65,802 in Lincoln.
Living in Lincoln vs Medford
Housing Costs
Lincoln's housing index of 77 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $264,000 vs $406,000. The $142,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,228 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Lincoln compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Lincoln and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Lincoln vs $513/month in Medford. Lincoln offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Lincoln and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Lincoln vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Lincoln 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 $71,900 in Lincoln and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,312 and $69,057 respectively. Lincoln residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,678/month to housing in Lincoln vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Lincoln, 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 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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