Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
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.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,030 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $534k less ($349,500 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1398/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,622)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $69,030/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$69,030
$136,570 vs $67,540/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
81% lower
99.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$534k less
$349,500 vs $883,600
Salem
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 79.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo'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, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories. Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($136,570 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and Salem, OR are about 832 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.