Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Corona leads 12 of 22 categories
Corona
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346
Salem
Oregon
10
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.
Corona, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,187 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,200
Higher rents — median is $2,020/mo
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($349,500 vs $624,200)
Rent averages $796/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,020)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Corona
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Corona by $36,187/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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Median Income
$36,187
$103,727 vs $67,540/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
53% lower
249.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
Corona
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$275k less
$349,500 vs $624,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corona leads 12 of 22 categories. Corona wins 12 and Salem wins 10. 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 Corona to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $349,500 median home), income ($103,727 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Salem, OR are about 817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.