Been living here since 2010. With a population of 177K, Salem is a mid-size city. Crime rate is something to consider — Salem sits at 381.0 per 100K. Rent is about $1,323/month for a decent place. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The food scene here is surprisingly good. What would you do? Cheers. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look.
42 upvotes
7 Replies
Angel Patel
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The healthcare is genuinely improving and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Sunset) is developing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from New York, be prepared for the culture shock. job market is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
27 upvotes
nyc_landon
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely decent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Nashville, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
26 upvotes
Hunter Cruz
Came here for family and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The healthcare is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
22 upvotes
Connor Ward
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is dating scene. Other than that, Definitely worth checking out..
20 upvotes
Bruce J.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it exceeded my expectations. Internet is average in most areas.
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