Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Salem
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Households earn $3,827 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
36% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
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
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lancaster by $3,827/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$3,827
$71,367 vs $67,540/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
36% lower
532.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$19k less
$349,500 vs $368,800
Salem
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Salem, OR are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.