Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $1305k less ($349,500 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1003/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,227)
32% less violent crime than Santa Monica
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $39,257/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
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,257 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 84°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
32% lower
532.2 vs 778.0 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$1305k less
$349,500 vs $1,654,800
Salem
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$39,257
$106,797 vs $67,540/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Salem is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Salem wins 12 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($67,540 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Santa Monica, CA are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.