Lake Oswego, OR vs Medford, OR

The cost of living difference between Lake Oswego, OR and Medford, OR is dramatic. Medford is 59.5% cheaper than Lake Oswego, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lake Oswego has a cost index of 172 while Medford sits at 108, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Oswego is $2,031/month compared to $1,321/month in Medford — a 54% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Medford is more affordable at $387,000 median vs $894,000.

Median household income in Lake Oswego is $140,441 compared to $70,497 in Medford (+99.2%). While Lake Oswego is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Oswego spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.5% in Medford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.8°F vs 55.9°F). Lake Oswego receives more rainfall at 39.6" per year compared to 18.4" in Medford.