Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 16 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Salem
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($236,500 vs $349,500)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salem by $13,235/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $13,235 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,402)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Haven
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$113k less
$236,500 vs $349,500
Salem
Median Income
$13,235
$67,540 vs $54,305/yr
Salem
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 16 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 7 and Salem wins 16. 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 Haven to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($54,305 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Salem, OR are about 2,499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.