Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell Medford

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 100.1 → 101.4
Rent Delta: -$290/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $290/mo cheaper rent (2BR)

Cons of Moving

  • - $5K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare

Moving from Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to Medford shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 100.1 to 101.4 (100 = US average), so a Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary needs to be multiplied by 1.01 to hold the same purchasing power in Medford. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,820/month in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to $1,530/month in Medford - a lower monthly bill of $290, or $3,480/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $72,107 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell versus $67,561 in Medford - a raw gap of $4,546 lower. The Medford labor market has 82,860 tracked jobs against 2,837,930 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell and Medford are 300 and 335 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 17.6:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $6,591/year in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell versus $12,639/year in Medford. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Medford
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 100.1
RPP 101.4
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,820/mo
$1,530/mo
Medford
💼 Wages
$72,107
$67,561
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🔒 Crime
300 per 100K
335 per 100K
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
17.6:1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
👶 Childcare
$6,591/yr
$12,639/yr
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
🌿 Environment
2663 violations
2578 violations
Medford

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell to see what you'd need to earn in Medford to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Medford
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medford more expensive than Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Medford has an RPP of 101.4 compared to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell's 100.1 (100 = national average). Medford is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Medford is $1,530/mo vs $1,820/mo in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell.
What are salaries like in Medford compared to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The median salary in Medford is $67,561 compared to $72,107 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell. That's a -$4,546 difference.
Is Medford safer than Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The violent crime rate near Medford is 335 per 100K vs 300 per 100K near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell (state-level data). Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Medford to match my Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell salary by 1.01. For example, a $75,000 salary in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell would need to be $76,031 in Medford. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)