Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 15 of 22 categories
Salem
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Households earn $4,484 more per year on average
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 10% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($205,200 vs $349,500)
26% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,224)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $4,484/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$4,484
$67,540 vs $63,056/yr
Tyler
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
26% lower
391.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$144k less
$205,200 vs $349,500
Tyler
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tyler leads 15 of 22 categories. Salem wins 7 and Tyler wins 15. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $205,200 median home), income ($67,540 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Tyler, TX are about 1,719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.