Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Salem
Oregon
6
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.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
89% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $37,323 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.1%)
Homes cost $66k less ($283,600 vs $349,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,311)
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $37,323/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$37,323
$104,863 vs $67,540/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
89% lower
59.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$66k less
$283,600 vs $349,500
O'Fallon
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories. O'Fallon wins 17 and Salem wins 6. 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 O'Fallon to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $349,500 median home), income ($104,863 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Salem, OR are about 1,703 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.