Medford, OR vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portland, OR outspends Medford, OR by a wide margin per resident — $23,675 versus $12,307, a 92% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Medford, OR edges Portland, OR on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 70/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Portland, OR carries the lighter load at $1,574 per resident versus $2,887 for Medford, OR. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Medford, OR at $822 per resident and in Portland, OR at $2,477.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Medford, OR at 16% of total revenue, whereas Portland, OR relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 19%.
Summary
Portland spends 48.0% more per capita than Medford ($11,368/person difference). Medford, OR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $17 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $241 | $1,695 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $130 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,848 | $8,979 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,768 | $3,883 |
| Other | $3,119 | $7,916 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $267 | $1,700 |
| Highways & Roads | $322 | $139 |
| Public Welfare | $1,096 | $3,607 |
| Hospitals | $311 | $2,893 |
| Parks & Recreation | $822 | $2,477 |
| Housing | $3,358 | $3,694 |
| Sewerage | $232 | $630 |
| Utilities | $1,690 | $1,845 |
| Other | $4,209 | $6,689 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.