Medford receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Longview-Kelso
Medford
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 20%
vs55 · Top 50%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
74 · Top 24%
vs71 · Top 33%
Physical resilience
28 · Bottom 16%
vs24 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 16%
vs64 · Bottom 8%
Access
76 · Top 50%
vs90 · Top 24%
Economic stability
59 · Top 40%
vs60 · Top 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Longview-Kelso | Medford | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 112,360 | 222,645 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,531 | $73,999 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,105 | $40,709 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 98/sq mi | 80/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $397,500 | $430,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,206 | $1,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.0% | 65.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 6.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 31.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 252 | 961 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.2% | 23.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 20.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Longview-Kelso
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, inland flooding.
Medford
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Longview-Kelso
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Medford
61
Your Score
56
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Longview-Kelso, WA Metro Area · Medford, OR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology