Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Salem leads 15 of 21 categories
Salem
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
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 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,312)
Households earn $4,529 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Salem
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $44k less ($305,600 vs $349,500)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $4,529/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Income
$4,529
$67,540 vs $63,011/yr
Salem
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Salem
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 532.2 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$44k less
$305,600 vs $349,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Salem leads 15 of 21 categories. Salem wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($67,540 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Worcester, MA are about 2,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.