Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Salem, OR

    Is Salem a good place to live?

    Watch Salem

    Salem ranks #15 of 27 Oregon cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (49/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $382,400
    +9.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,323
    per month
    Household income
    $71,900
    median
    Unemployment
    5.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Salem

    The median home value in Salem is $382,400 and median rent is $1,323 a month, against a median household income of $71,900. Homes cost about 5.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Salem crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Oregon the 2025 rate was 319 violent and 2,184 property crimes per 100,000 people — #4 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Salem, OR

    Salem has about 176,666 residents, 5.3% unemployment and 19% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Salem with

    Salem vs PortlandSalem vs EugeneSalem vs GreshamSalem vs HillsboroSalem vs BendSalem vs BeavertonSalem vs MedfordSalem vs Springfield

    More: Where to move in Oregon · Best counties in Oregon

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report