Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $28,191 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Salem, OR
Pros
48% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 21°F
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,405)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $28,191/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$28,191
$95,731 vs $67,540/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
48% lower
532.2 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$14k less
$349,500 vs $363,800
Salem
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 12 and Salem wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($95,731 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Salem, OR are about 1,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.