What are the schools like in Medford, MN?

Medford is served primarily by Medford Public School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Medford?

The median household income in Medford, MN is $98,036 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.

What is the weather like in Medford, MN?

Medford has an average high temperature of 22.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 44.2 inches.

Medford, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Medford, MN affordable or expensive?

Medford's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Medford is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $212,500 and the median rent is $825 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Medford, MN?

Medford has a violent crime rate of 152.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 769.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Medford, MN a Good Place to Live?

Medford is a small town of 1,258 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $98,036 and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Medford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Medford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Medford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.7

Medford's overall cost of living index is 95.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Medford costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Medford, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$212,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$825	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$98,036	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Medford's violent crime rate is 152.8 per 100,000 residents — 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

152.8 /100k

Property Crime

769.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Medford is served primarily by Medford Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Medford, MN	National Avg
School District	Medford Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Medford sees average highs of 22.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 35.5 inches of annual precipitation and 44.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Medford, MN
Average High — January	22.2°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	35.5"
Annual Snowfall	44.2"

Demographics

Metric	Medford, MN	National Avg
Population	1,258	—
Median Age	31.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	29.9%	22.2%
65 and over	9.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Owatonna, MN 5 mi Warsaw, MN 9 mi Faribault, MN 9 mi Morristown, MN 11 mi Waseca, MN 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Medford

Medford, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55049

Medford vs Other Cities

Medford, MN vs Owatonna, MN Medford, MN vs Warsaw, MN Medford, MN vs Faribault, MN Medford, MN vs Morristown, MN Medford, MN vs Waseca, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medford, MN affordable or expensive?

Medford's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Medford roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $212,500 and median rent is $825/month.

What is the crime rate in Medford, MN?

Medford's violent crime rate is 152.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 769.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Medford?

Public schools in Medford are operated by Medford Public School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Medford, MN a good place to live?

Medford, MN has a population of 1,258, a median household income of $98,036, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Medford?

Medford averages 22.2°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.5 inches with about 44.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Medford?

Medford, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55049.

What is the population of Medford?

The population of Medford, Minnesota is 1,258 with a median age of 31.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Medford?

Key numbers for living in Medford: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $212,500, median household income $98,036, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Medford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.