Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 16 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Salem
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,078 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 84°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($349,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $629/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,853)
42% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $19,078/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$19,078
$86,618 vs $67,540/yr
Salem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
42% lower
532.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$275k less
$349,500 vs $624,800
Salem
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Salem
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 16 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($86,618 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Salem, OR are about 483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.