Moving to Salem
What you need to know before relocating to Salem, Oregon. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Salem a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Salem compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include high school graduation rate of 91%; low uninsured rate (6.9%) and good healthcare access.
Salem at a Glance
Cost of Living in Salem
The median rent in Salem is $1,391/month, while the median home value is $437,200. With a median household income of $74,554, residents spend roughly 22% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Salem metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Salem has a median household income of $74,554, which is 0% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Salem
The violent crime rate in Salem is 326 per 100,000 residents, which is 14% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 2591 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Oregon
Oregon has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $19,376/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1.
39% of Oregon adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Oregon has 282 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 6.9% uninsured rate, and 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Oregon is 77.9 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Salem
+Pros
- ✓High school graduation rate of 91%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (6.9%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Home prices ($437,200) are above the US median
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (177393 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem a good place to live?⌄
Salem, Oregon has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including high school graduation rate of 91% and low uninsured rate (6.9%) and good healthcare access. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Salem?⌄
The median rent in Salem is $1,391/month and the median home value is $437,200. The median household income is $74,554. Overall the metro is considered average.
Is Salem safe?⌄
Salem has a violent crime rate of 326 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Salem?⌄
Salem has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $74,554.