What it's like to live in Salem
Salem is a mid-size city in Oregon with commutes that run shorter than most cities and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Salem deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Salem compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Salem
Based on Salem's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,800
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,000 a year
- 54% of Salem renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$83,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,690
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,400/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,400 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $416,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $416,900 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 16% above US
5.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.0%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 29% above US
424 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2365/100k · Salem Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
50 public schools inside the boundary
There are 50 public schools inside the boundary and 14 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (51 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Salem's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,400/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Salem
All Oregon guides →Not sure Salem is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.