Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($270,700 vs $349,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Salem by $3,555/yr
Salem, OR
Pros
19% less violent crime than Dallas
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,305)
Households earn $3,555 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$79k less
$270,700 vs $349,500
Dallas
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Income
$3,555
$67,540 vs $63,985/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
19% lower
532.2 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 10 and Salem wins 13. 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 Dallas to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($63,985 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.