Living in Salem, OR
Mid-size city in Oregon
Salem is a mid-size city in Oregon, home to about 177,000 people, with 659,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Salem a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Easy flying: PDX is 50 mi away
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 5 within 9 mi
- Higher taxes: about $3,084 state income tax per resident, 1.03% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Salem ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Salem: common questions
What is the cost of living in Salem?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $419k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,160 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Salem?
Oregon collects about $3,084 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.03% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Salem safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Salem?
Salem has cool winters: winter days average around 49°F and summer days around 81°F.
Does Salem get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.48 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Salem?
The nearest major airport is PDX, about 50 mi away.
How Salem scores
Each bar compares Salem with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Salem right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.