Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($212,500 vs $349,500)
18% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Salem by $4,546/yr
Salem, OR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Households earn $4,546 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
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
Columbus
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
18% lower
434.9 vs 532.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$137k less
$212,500 vs $349,500
Columbus
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Median Income
$4,546
$67,540 vs $62,994/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ 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 | 114⚠ 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 | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 16 and Salem wins 7. 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 Columbus to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($62,994 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Salem, OR are about 2,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.