Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Salem
Oregon
12
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $53,999 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $648k less ($349,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1404/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,628)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $53,999/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$53,999
$121,539 vs $67,540/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
18% lower
436.7 vs 532.2 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$648k less
$349,500 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Salem wins 12. 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 Cambridge to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Salem, OR are about 2,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.