Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Salem
Oregon
8
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $57,077 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($349,500 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $725/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,949)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $57,077/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$57,077
$124,617 vs $67,540/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
68% lower
172.8 vs 532.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Centennial
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$237k less
$349,500 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 15 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 15 and Salem wins 8. 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 Centennial to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($124,617 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Salem, OR are about 996 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.