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Salem

#2 in Best Places to Live in Salem Area
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • City in Oregon
  • 411 reviews
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      B-
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      B
    9. Cost of Living
      C+
    10. Health & Fitness
      B+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Salem is a city in Oregon with a population of 163,654. Salem is in Marion County. Living in Salem offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Salem there are a lot of bars and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Salem and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Salem are above average.
    About Salem...
    Population
    163,654

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $201,900
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $861
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      47%
    • Own
      53%
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    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    Salem Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      279.6
      282.7
    • Murder
      2.9
      6.1
    • Rape
      32.6
      40.7
    • Robbery
      102.9
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      543
      500.1
    • Theft
      3,103.1
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      522
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      13%
    • 10-17 years
      11%
    • 18-24 years
      11%
    • 25-34 years
      15%
    • 35-44 years
      13%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      11%
    • 65+ years
      13%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      11%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      17%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      34%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      25%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      13%
      13%
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

    Working in Salem

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $51,666
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Salem
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    Salem Reviews

    411 reviews
    All Categories
    Salem is the state capital and has much to offer. Different areas of the city are distinct, but overall, Salem is a safe and good place to live. People from all walks of life come together here. Surrounded by farmland and only a couple hours from both the mountains and the coast, there are many opportunities for those with interest in the outdoors. Only an hour from Portland, Salem benefits from some of the art and hippie cultures. Looking for hipster coffee shops, Salem has got them! I would love to see more murals and art around the city. People tend to be involved in the community and there are many organizations to help those in need. Salem is also a melting pot of beliefs, both political and religious.
    Start Your Review of Salem
    Rate It!
    Smallish town with a lot of great restaurants and community activities.

    Willamette University - where I want to go, is a beautiful campus located in the center of downtown.

    We even have a stand-alone Virtual Reality arcade!

    It is located within close driving range of the beach, Mount Hood and Bend.

    For those who are wine drinkers we are in the middle of wine country.

    For those into craft beer, that is also huge in Oregon.

    Next to no drive-time traffic.
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