Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Salem
Oregon
8
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $80,687 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Salem
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $1129/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $288k less ($349,500 vs $637,400)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $80,687/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$80,687
$148,227 vs $67,540/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
74% lower
138.1 vs 532.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$288k less
$349,500 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 15 and Salem wins 8. 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 Highlands Ranch to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($148,227 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Salem, OR are about 993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.