Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Richmond leads 12 of 22 categories
Richmond
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Salem
Homes cost $41k less ($308,300 vs $349,500)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Salem by $7,934/yr
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $7,934 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Richmond
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
37% lower
336.9 vs 532.2 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$41k less
$308,300 vs $349,500
Richmond
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$7,934
$67,540 vs $59,606/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 12 and Salem wins 10. 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 ($308,300 vs $349,500 median home), income ($59,606 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Salem, OR are about 2,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.