Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Gresham leads 14 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Salinas
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($411,700 vs $573,600)
22% less violent crime than Salinas
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,795)
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $14,813/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,813 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
22% lower
410.2 vs 524.5 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$162k less
$411,700 vs $573,600
Gresham
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 70.7°F
Salinas
Median Income
$14,813
$84,250 vs $69,437/yr
Salinas
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $84,250 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 14 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 14 and Salinas 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 Gresham to Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $573,600 median home), income ($69,437 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Salinas, CA are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.