Where to Live in
Medford

Here is the 2026 Neighborhood Shortlist.

The 2026 Vibe Check

Medford is currently caught in a weird squeeze. You have the ghost of the old timber industry lingering south of the I-84, while the tech overflow from Portland and the wine money from Willamette Valley is pushing prices up in the north. The real dividing line is NE 33rd St. Go south of there, and you're dealing with the old grid, the strip malls, and the industrial grit. Go north, and the streets get wider, the trees older, and the price tags jump.

The new "it" spot is the Slabtown border. It's bleeding east into the Alberta Arts district, but the parking is a nightmare and the new builds are soulless boxes selling for $800k. The biggest shift is the Lents area. Five years ago, I told you to avoid it. Now? It’s the wild west of development. The Portland International Airport expansion is finally paying off in property value, but the crime rates haven't caught up to the real estate prices yet. If you’re looking for peace, the noise from the flight path is real.

The Shortlist

The Alphabet District / NW 23rd

• The Vibe: Polished Urban
• Rent Check: 1.5x City Avg ($1600+). You pay for the zip code.
• The Good: Walkability is a 9/10. You are steps from Salt & Straw (the original), McMenamins Mission Theater, and the boutique chaos of NW 23rd Ave. The Tanner Springs Park is the best man-made green space in the city for a quick breather.
• The Bad: Parking is non-existent. If you don’t have a dedicated spot, you will circle for 20 minutes on a Friday night. The "homeless issue" here is concentrated near the transit mall, and the police presence is heavy but ineffective.
• Best For: High-income earners who want to walk to a $200 dinner and own zero car.
• Insider Tip: Skip the chain coffee on 23rd. Walk one block over to Nossa Familia Coffee on NW Northrup for the best espresso and actual local vibes.

Hillsboro (Tanasbourne Area)

• The Vibe: Suburban Tech
• Rent Check: 1.3x City Avg ($1400+).
• The Good: This is where the money flows. The schools (Liberty High) are top-tier. You get square footage. The Jenkins Estate is a hidden gem for hiking that doesn't feel like a suburb. Access to Cornell Rd makes the commute to Intel or Nike manageable.
• The Bad: It is sterile. You will drive everywhere. The "downtown" Hillsboro is trying to be a city but feels like a corporate plaza after 6 PM.
• Best For: Families who prioritize school districts and square footage over personality.
• Insider Tip: The Tanisaba Creek Nature Park is the best spot in the area to let the dog run off-leash before the city dwellers catch on.

Lents

• The Vibe: Gritty Upstart
• Rent Check: 0.9x City Avg ($950). The Value Play.
• The Good: It is the only place left inside the city limits where you can buy a detached house for under $500k. The Foster-Powell food scene is creeping south. The Lents International Farmers Market is legit.
• The Bad: It is rough around the edges. Car break-ins are common on SE 82nd Ave. The noise from the PDX flight path is constant during the day. Do not leave a bike outside.
• Best For: Investors and young buyers willing to rough it for 5 years while the gentrification machine churns.
• Insider Tip: Grab a beer at The Fermenter on SE 52nd. It’s the anchor of the "New Lents" and a good place to gauge if you can handle the neighborhood vibe.

Multnomah Village

• The Vibe: Old Guard
• Rent Check: 1.4x City Avg ($1500+).
• The Good: It feels like a separate small town, but it's 10 minutes from downtown. The Multnomah Arts Center is a community hub. Village Meat & Deli is the best sandwich shop in the city, period. It’s quiet, leafy, and feels established.
• The Bad: It’s a bit isolated. You have to leave the "Village" for almost everything else. The housing stock is old and requires maintenance.
• Best For: People who want a strong sense of community and hate the hustle of the Alphabet District.
• Insider Tip: Park on SW 35th Ave and walk the trail down to the river. It’s the best shortcut to the waterfront that tourists don't know about.

Strategic Recommendations

For Families:
You want Hillsboro (Tanasbourne) or Bethany. I don't care that it's boring. I care that Liberty High School and Jacob Wismer Elementary are consistently top performers. The yards are fenced, and the streets are wide enough for bikes. Avoid Lents unless you are okay with your kids growing up fast.

For Wall St / Tech (Remote/Commuter):
The Alphabet District. If you need to get to the airport, you have NW 23rd bus lines or a quick cab ride. If you need to head south to the Silicon Forest (Beaverton), you hop on I-405. It’s the central hub. Multnomah Village is too far west for a daily commute to Nike.

The Value Play (Buy Before 2028):
Lents. Specifically, the triangle bounded by SE 82nd Ave, SE Foster Rd, and SE Powell Blvd. The city is rezoning this corridor for high-density mixed-use. The teardowns are getting bought by developers. If you can stomach the noise from PDX and the current lack of polish, this is where the equity spike is happening. Buy a bungalow, fix it up, and hold.