Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Salem
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,526)
Homes cost $74k less ($349,500 vs $423,500)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sparks by $15,398/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sparks, NV
Pros
26% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $15,398 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$74k less
$349,500 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$15,398
$82,938 vs $67,540/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
26% lower
394.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Salem wins 11 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $423,500 median home), income ($67,540 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Sparks, NV are about 406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.