Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 16 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($215,500 vs $349,500)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salem by $10,003/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
41% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,003 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°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
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$134k less
$215,500 vs $349,500
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Income
$10,003
$67,540 vs $57,537/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
41% lower
532.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($57,537 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Salem, OR are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.