Best Life Index › States › Oregon › Cities › Salem

Oregon city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Salem?

What it costs to live in Salem, and how it compares with other Oregon cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

34

36th best value in Oregon

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Oregon cities.

Overall livability

28

43rd overall in Oregon

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Salem is home to about 174,193 people. A typical home runs $289,500 and a household earns around $62,200, a price-to-income ratio of 4.7. Among Oregon's largest cities, it ranks 36th for value and 43rd overall.

Salem at a glance

Median home price

$289,500

26th in OR of 46

Median rent

$1,125/mo

Median household income

$62,200

Home price to income

4.7x

Unemployment

6.4%

32nd in OR of 46

School rating

5/10

29th in OR of 46

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in OR of 46

Walk score

20/100

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‹ See all top Oregon cities ranked  ยท  Oregon state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Oregon only. Updated 2026.