Salem OR
Oregon · Pop. 178,865
Salem, OR: median household income of $75,487, median rent of $1,400/mo, 5.8% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$75,487
per year
Median Rent
$1,400
per month
Median Home
$417k
home value
Unemployment
5.8%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
14.4%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
22 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Salem, OR Reality Check"
In Salem, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $75,487 and median rent is $1,400/month. 53% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $416,900 — that's 5.5× the median income. Employment picture: 5.82% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 14.4%. Average commute: 22 minutes — acceptable. Salem was founded in 1842 — that's 184 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 48.4 sq miles at 3,693 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 1,532 ft — elevated terrain. RoastMyCity overall score: 62/100 — It Depends.