Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 14 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
14
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,908 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,711)
Homes cost $136k less ($349,500 vs $485,500)
10% less violent crime than Riverside
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Riverside by $15,908/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$15,908
$83,448 vs $67,540/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
10% lower
532.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$136k less
$349,500 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Salem leads 14 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Salem wins 14. 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 Riverside to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($83,448 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Salem, OR are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.