Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Salem
Oregon
9
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $41,728 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $44k less ($349,500 vs $393,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $41,728/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$41,728
$109,268 vs $67,540/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$44k less
$349,500 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 11 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 Germantown to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($109,268 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Salem, OR are about 2,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.