Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Salem
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($159,600 vs $349,500)
49% less violent crime than Salem
Rent averages $304/mo less ($920 vs $1,224)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $13,401/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $13,401 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Edinburg
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
49% lower
269.6 vs 532.2 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$190k less
$159,600 vs $349,500
Edinburg
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$13,401
$67,540 vs $54,139/yr
Salem
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 14 and Salem wins 9. 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 Edinburg to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.