Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Salem leads 15 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
40% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $19,863 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($198,500 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,224)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $19,863/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$19,863
$67,540 vs $47,677/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
40% lower
532.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$151k less
$198,500 vs $349,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Salem wins 15 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($67,540 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Springfield, MA are about 2,496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.