Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Salem leads 14 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $16,089 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°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 7% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($162,800 vs $349,500)
39% less violent crime than Salem
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,224)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $16,089/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$16,089
$67,540 vs $51,451/yr
Salem
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
39% lower
322.5 vs 532.2 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$187k less
$162,800 vs $349,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 14 of 23 categories. Salem wins 14 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($67,540 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Waterbury, CT are about 2,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.