Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Salem
Oregon
15
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
23% less violent crime than Salem
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,452)
Homes cost $62k less ($349,500 vs $411,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$1,897
$69,437 vs $67,540/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
23% lower
410.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$62k less
$349,500 vs $411,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 8 and Salem wins 15. 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 Gresham to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($69,437 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Salem, OR are about 49 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.