At a Glance
Median Income
$71,900
$36,477 per capita
Home Value
$382,400
Zillow: $432,341
Median Rent
$1,323/mo
32.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
381/100K
3,689/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
31.4%
88.7% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
10.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.8%
12.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F
239 sunny days/yr
How Salem Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Salem's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Salem a Good Place to Live?
B
3.0 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Salem residents earn a median household income of $71,900 , which is 4% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,477. The unemployment rate stands at 3.2% (11% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,330 business establishments, including 154 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Salem is $382,400 , 36% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $432,341. Median rent is $1,323/month, with 32.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 103.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1979.
Safety & Crime
Salem reports 381 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 0% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,689/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
31.4% of adults in Salem hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(7% below the national average).
88.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Salem has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 239 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32.
Data Overview
People
Population176,666
Median Age35.7 yrs
Density3,610/mi²
Male / Female51% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.4%
Economy
A
Median Income$71,900
Per Capita$36,477
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty10.8%
County GDP$3,143M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,005
Housing
B+
Home Value$382,400
Rent$1,323
Ownership55.7%
Zillow$432,341
Housing Units69,286
Rent Burden32.9%
Crime
F
Violent381/100K
Property3,689/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault275/100K
Burglary387/100K
Health
Obesity41.8%
Diabetes11.0%
Smoking12.8%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death6,465/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Sunny Days239/yr
Rain46.3 in/yr
AQI32 (Good)
Elevation174 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+31.4%
High School+88.7%
Graduate+12.1%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 50% / D 47%
Commute22 min
Broadband91.7%
Internet Speed122 Mbps
EV Stations137
Libraries4
Did You Know?
Salem was founded in 1842.
The median home in Salem was built in 1979.
The nearest airport is Portland International (50 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.463 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 122 Mbps.
There are 154 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.
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