Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $43,583 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $38k less ($311,100 vs $349,500)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $43,583/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
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$43,583
$111,123 vs $67,540/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
82% lower
95.9 vs 532.2 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$38k less
$311,100 vs $349,500
Pearland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories. Pearland 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 Pearland to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $349,500 median home), income ($111,123 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.