Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
61% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $14,599 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°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 6% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($174,100 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($938 vs $1,224)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salem by $14,599/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$14,599
$67,540 vs $52,941/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
61% lower
532.2 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$175k less
$174,100 vs $349,500
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. Salem wins 10 and St. Louis wins 13. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($67,540 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and St. Louis, MO are about 1,731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.