Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 12 of 22 categories
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,489)
Homes cost $63k less ($349,500 vs $412,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $31,462/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $31,462 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Home Value
$63k less
$349,500 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$31,462
$99,002 vs $67,540/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
45% lower
294.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 12 of 22 categories. Salem wins 10 and West Jordan wins 12. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $412,100 median home), income ($67,540 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and West Jordan, UT are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.