Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 14 of 22 categories
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $379k less ($349,500 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $840/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,064)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $31,873/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $31,873 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Salem
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$379k less
$349,500 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$31,873
$99,413 vs $67,540/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
58% lower
222.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 14 of 22 categories. Salem wins 8 and San Marcos 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 Salem to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $728,800 median home), income ($67,540 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and San Marcos, CA are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.