Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Salem
Oregon
5
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.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $18,287 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $59k less ($290,800 vs $349,500)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $18,287/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$18,287
$85,827 vs $67,540/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
71% lower
156.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$59k less
$290,800 vs $349,500
New Braunfels
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories. New Braunfels wins 18 and Salem wins 5. 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 New Braunfels to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($85,827 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.