Hey folks, Military spouse here. With a population of 9,893, Salem is a small town. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
7 upvotes
14 Replies
Oliver Ortiz
Totally agree!
40 upvotes
Noah Ramirez
wish I knew this sooner
40 upvotes
Harper Walker
honestly same experience here
39 upvotes
Anthony B.
couldn't agree more
36 upvotes
Grayson Patel
Can confirm, been here 4 years.
34 upvotes
Hannah Patel
I've been living here for 2 years and I'd say there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The pet-friendliness is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Theodore Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 3 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is safety. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
21 upvotes
Kennedy R.
100%
18 upvotes
Aaliyah Gray
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is decent in most areas.
11 upvotes
henry_soul
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Internet is hit or miss in most areas.
9 upvotes
Amelia Smith
This.
6 upvotes
Quinn Foster
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value housing market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely average and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (Fairview) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Limited shopping options.
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.
2 upvotes
Austin R.
glad someone said it
2 upvotes
Abigail T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Houston about 3 years ago. The main reasons were weather and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are reasonable, gas is challenging.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Hope this helps!.
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