Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Salem
Oregon
14
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,266 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3219.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($349,500 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,611)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Everett by $10,266/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Median Income
$10,266
$77,806 vs $67,540/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
50% lower
265.1 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$122k less
$349,500 vs $471,200
Salem
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Everett wins 9 and Salem wins 14. 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 Everett to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $349,500 median home), income ($77,806 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Salem, OR are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.