Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
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 1.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $8,228 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 9% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($186,500 vs $349,500)
20% less violent crime than Salem
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,224)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $8,228/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Median Income
$8,228
$67,540 vs $59,312/yr
Salem
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
20% lower
423.6 vs 532.2 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$163k less
$186,500 vs $349,500
Yuma
Summer Heat
23.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 83.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 22 categories. Salem wins 8 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $186,500 median home), income ($67,540 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Yuma, AZ are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.