Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miramar, FL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 11 of 20 categories
Miramar
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,812 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
135,158
Salem
Oregon
11
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.
Miramar, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $14,272 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,840/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Salem
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $616/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,840)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miramar
Homes cost $29k less ($349,500 vs $378,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miramar by $14,272/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Miramar
Median Income
$14,272
$81,812 vs $67,540/yr
Miramar
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Miramar
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$29k less
$349,500 vs $378,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miramar, FL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $378,200⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,840⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,812 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.8% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,158 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miramar's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Salem leads 11 of 20 categories. Miramar wins 9 and Salem wins 11. 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 Miramar to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($378,200 vs $349,500 median home), income ($81,812 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miramar, FL and Salem, OR are about 2,694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.