Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Salem
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $22,908 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $69k less ($280,700 vs $349,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $22,908/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$22,908
$90,448 vs $67,540/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
31% lower
364.9 vs 532.2 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$69k less
$280,700 vs $349,500
Midland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Midland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 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 Midland to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.