Home › OR › Salem, OR Cost of living in Salem, OR Livability score 59 · cost-of-living index 102.5 (US = 100)
How Salem compares Where Salem falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 102 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 102 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $455k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $455k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $268 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $268 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 0.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 0.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.90% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.90% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 340 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 340 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.8 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.8 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 82° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 82° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 34° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 34° Map of Salem Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 102.5 metro-area #157 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 104.8 metro-area #172 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.83 metro-area #155 of 200 Median household income $72,154 metro-area #94 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,569 metro-area #134 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.3 years metro-area #65 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 26.9% metro-area #159 of 200 Foreign-born residents 12.0% metro-area #59 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 62.7% metro-area #145 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.41% metro-area #122 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.7% metro-area #69 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $454,689 metro-area #158 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.3× metro-area #165 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.4% metro-area #128 of 200 Price per square foot $268 metro-area #162 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,700 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,628 metro-area #104 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,381 Median days on market 20 metro-area #114 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.8% state #131 of 200 Combined sales tax 0.00% state #1 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 9.90% Capital gains tax 9.90% state #165 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.90% metro-area #107 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,235 metro-area #131 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 77.8 years metro-area #69 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.6% metro-area #120 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 69 metro-area #131 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 state #141 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #109 of 200 Commute by driving alone 70.9% metro-area #46 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 32.5% metro-area #112 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 15.8¢/kWh state #64 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $142 state #64 of 200 Gasoline $4.10/gal state #170 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $58 state #58 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $224 state #195 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $82 state #129 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $900 state #1 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,500 state #41 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 90.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #113 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $600 state #172 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 35 metro-area #10 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 300 metro-area #2 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 76% state #168 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,600 metro-area #110 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 15 metro-area #69 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 82°F metro-area #10 of 200 Avg winter low 34°F metro-area #76 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.7" metro-area #113 of 200 Annual snowfall 3.4" metro-area #78 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 48% metro-area #186 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8b Frost window 02-25 → 12-01
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 340 state #48 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 3,000 state #186 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 4 state #147 of 200 Permit detail Difficult; zoning + review
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Salem Major public and private employers in the Salem, OR area.
Salaries by occupation in Salem Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $226,010 Pharmacists $154,090 Lawyers $139,820 Physician Assistants $134,630 Financial Managers $128,630 Human Resources Managers $126,240 Data Scientists $110,390 Marketing Managers $109,970 Registered Nurses $107,080 Software Developers $106,600 Dental Hygienists $106,310 Civil Engineers $105,780 Construction Managers $102,570 Mechanical Engineers $95,890 Physical Therapists $94,460 General & Operations Managers $94,430 Elementary School Teachers $80,330 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $80,190 Electricians $79,630 Accountants & Auditors $78,630 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $77,950 Real Estate Sales Agents $60,460 Carpenters $59,940 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,810 Graphic Designers $58,690 Web Developers $57,720 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,390 Medical Assistants $47,620
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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