Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
New York
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $9,067 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($349,500 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,714)
21% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
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
Median income trails New York by $9,067/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$9,067
$76,607 vs $67,540/yr
Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
21% lower
532.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$383k less
$349,500 vs $732,100
Salem
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. New York wins 10 and Salem wins 13. 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 York to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $349,500 median home), income ($76,607 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Salem, OR are about 2,468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.