Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $18,336 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($349,500 vs $523,100)
26% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,530)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $18,336/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Median Income
$18,336
$85,876 vs $67,540/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
26% lower
532.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$174k less
$349,500 vs $523,100
Salem
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $349,500 median home), income ($85,876 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Salem, OR are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.