Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Salem
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $28,030 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $946/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,170)
Homes cost $248k less ($349,500 vs $597,100)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $28,030/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$28,030
$95,570 vs $67,540/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
68% lower
171.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$248k less
$349,500 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Salem wins 6. 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 Boca Raton to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $349,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Salem, OR are about 2,688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.