2018 Best Places to Live in the Salem AreaAbout this List

Silverton

• Town in Oregon
• 19

Current Resident: Silverton is INCREDIBLE! Such a beautiful country town, whose community is so family centered. There are so many fun activities and parades that happen monthly. Everyone is so friendly and kind.
Read 19 Reviews

• B

• B

• 9,757 Population

McMinnville

• Town in Oregon
• 81

Current Resident: McMinnville is a growing community, with the wine industry booming in the Willamette Valley, art and culture has blossomed in the Valley. Home prices are rising which is good for current homeowners and those looking to invest. McMinnville lacks some of the opportunities of the bigger cities but what it lacks in convenience it makes up for in personality- the farms in the area are bursting with seasonal deliciousness especially during the summer season!
Read 81 Reviews

• B

• B

• 33,211 Population

Salem

• City in Oregon
• 367

Current Resident: I’ve lived in Salem since I was four years old. I love the weather, I love that I’m an hour away from Portland, about two hours from Bend, and an hour away from Lincoln beach. We just got an ice-skating rink last year, a new ice cream shop, tons of sushi joints, and an abundance of cute vintage/ antique/ thrift stores. We’re hip (not as hip as Portland), very stylish, and super positive, outdoorsy, and caring! I love Salem and it’s the place to be especially if you’re looking for a little oomph in your life.
Read 367 Reviews

• B

• B-

• 163,654 Population

Keizer

• Town in Oregon
• 95

Current Resident: I just moved here and the community atmosphere that has been created by Keizer is amazing! While the nearest schools may not have the highest income, they do their best to prepare students in a specialty that will leave them with successful lives.
Read 95 Reviews

• B

• C+

• 37,910 Population

Monmouth

• Town in Oregon
• 48

Current Resident: Monmouth is a small and tight community. Which brings the university and the town closer together, filling the atmosphere with pride and prosperity!
Read 48 Reviews

• B

• C+

• 9,983 Population

Dallas

• Town in Oregon
• 23

Current Resident: Dallas is a small town just 30 minutes from Oregon's State Capital, Salem. The community is great in Dallas. Mostly everyone is friendly, informative, and willing to give a helping hand when others are in need. I love this small town. The Dallas City Park is a great place to go with the family if you want to have a picnic, go on a walk, or play frisbee golf. There's always fun events to be apart of. The local businesses are great especially if you go to the diner called Taters or check out the towns local movie theater downtown right across from the courthouse on Main Street. There are plenty of churches in town so people have options what church to attend based on their religion. New comers can join the Dallas Community Board on Facebook and ask questions about the town to get more familiar with it. If you enjoy living in a small town where everything is a short walking distance away then Dallas is the right place for you.
Read 23 Reviews

• B-

• C+

• 15,413 Population

Independence

• Town in Oregon
• 10

Current Resident: It's been two years since I've moved here to Independence, and I love this little town. The people are friendly and it's pretty quiet and chill. Despite being a small town, there are quite a few things to do. Every Saturday there is a farmer's market near the cinema, and the shops in the town are small but fun.

I'm a student at Western Oregon University in Monmouth and the commute is very doable.
Read 10 Reviews

• B-

• C

• 9,246 Population

Mount Angel

• Town in Oregon
• 5

Current Resident: I currently live in Mount Angel and would say it is a very nice place to live. Everyone is kind and friendly caring for one another. Although it is small we can fit thousands of people every year for our annual Oktoberfest. This brings many people from out of town to celebrate German culture, food, dancing, and family fun. Our town has about everything to make sure the people are satisfied. The police department is always watching over the town making sure that people are safe. We have many parks for the children like our newly renovated Ebner park which has a chip trail and softball field. The food in our town is great as well we have Leona's Bakery, Old Stone Coffee Shop, Burger Time, Happy Jing Chinese Food, Chonillos Taqueria, and two food trucks. What more can you ask? It may be a small town but everything it offers makes it the best.
Read 5 Reviews

• B-

• C+

• 3,453 Population

Lafayette

• Town in Oregon
• 2

Current Resident: Good, safe neighborhood. Quiet and great for families with kids! A little off the beaten path, but worth it for the difference in home prices.
Read 2 Reviews

• B-

• B

• 3,992 Population

Turner

• Town in Oregon
• 3

Current Resident: I have grown up in Turner my entire life, and I have experienced many great things growing up here. As a community, everyone is very welcoming, and it is a small environment so it creates a community that is closely knitted together. Most of the people here are very nice people who are willing to give back to their community in many different ways. The school is more of a small school so the classrooms are smaller, and it provides a better and safer learning environment for the students. The cost of living is relatively low, so it is a great area to move to if you have a family or planning on starting one.
Read 3 Reviews

• B-

• C+

• 2,221 Population

Hayesville

• Town in Oregon
• 9

Current Resident: Hayesville is a great neighborhood to raise kids in. Schools are near by, parks are close, and there is even a swimming pool!
Read 9 Reviews

• C+

• C

• 21,658 Population

Aumsville

• Town in Oregon
• 3

Current Resident: Great little town, great community, very family friendly. There are great parks within a few blocks of each other for kids. I feel very safe and the whole town is like it's own little neighborhood. Great for walking as the town has sidewalks through out.
Read 3 Reviews

• C+

• C+

• 3,974 Population

Four Corners

• Town in Oregon
• 60

Niche User: Salem, Oregon is a great environmet to be a part of. Is not too far from the coast, Mt Angel, or Portland. It is the capital of Oregon. It is very green and I like that because I am a nature peaceful person. I like to hike and Oregon has a lot of trails to offer. What I admire of Oregon is that we have a law that for every tree that gets cut down, two have to get planted. In the future I see Oregon the greenest state of all.
Read 60 Reviews

• C+

• C-

• 16,648 Population

Sublimity

• Town in Oregon
• 4

Current Resident: It's very safe and quiet. All of the surrounding neighbors make a great community to raise children.
Read 4 Reviews

• C+

• C

• 2,876 Population

Dayton

• Town in Oregon
• 4

Current Resident: The best part about growing up in this small town is that it feels like an extended family, making it easier to talk and trust those around you. No matter what happens on the day to day life, if is a guarantee that you always have someone who truly cares about you and will be there without a doubt in mind. So thankful to have grown up in such an amazing town with the most humble people.
Read 4 Reviews

• C+

• C

• 2,597 Population

Jefferson

• Town in Oregon
• 4

Niche User: Very quiet, not much going on
Read 4 Reviews

• C+

• C

• 3,238 Population

Stayton

• Town in Oregon
• 31

Niche User: Growing up in a small town always comes with disadvantages. Most of childhood was spent complaining that there wasn't anything to do, or harping on the school system and how we didn't have what larger cities provided in their schools. However, looking back I wouldn't change a thing. Being bored lead to roaming around the neighborhoods and finding friends to run around and have fun with. It taught me to how be creative with only a few things. No the schools weren't the richest of them all but they taught us well and gave us an opportunity in this world. Together everyone endured the same school system and came out with an undeniable bond with each other. The teachers and peers that I met throughout the years all have had a huge impact on how I've learned and grown as a person. Due to the fact that everybody knows everybody there wasn't much room to get into trouble in or out of school. There was always someone who was looking out for you in the best ways.

All over America small towns like this exist. Compared to large areas like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City small towns are nothing special. Nearly a pit stop off the highway on the way to somewhere else. What they'll never see is the love and compassion that runs through the place. Care for neighbors well being and future of the city. If leaders in the community continue to strive to make Stayton a better place the town will continue to go in a positive direction. Small businesses are continuing to grow and become more popular with the locals. Organizations like the YMCA have grown massively in support of many different sports as well as aquatic activities. This town has the ability to grow as a community and positively affect communities around as well. Now having moved out and into an even smaller town I have truly grasped just how important a strong bond within the community can shape an area. I wouldn't trade my small town upbringing for anything.
Read 31 Reviews

• C

• C

• 7,927 Population

Gervais

• Town in Oregon
• 10

Current Resident: Gervais is a small but nice town in Oregon. We have everything you could need, except maybe a Starbucks. There is a market and two parks. We are currently building a Dollar General store, which means there are more jobs available, which we need since there are not many stores or places here to get a job. We have a middle school and a high school, which have many students. Both schools have a nice playground and track with a football, baseball and soccer field. This town is very diverse. Most of the people here are Hispanic, Russian, or American. Everyone is pretty nice and there isn't much crime here at all. It is a nice town to live in and it is very close to Woodburn, which has all of the stores and places that we don't have and can get to in about 5 or 10 minutes.
Read 10 Reviews

• C

• C-

• 2,629 Population

Sheridan

• Town in Oregon
• 10

• C-

• D+

• 6,049 Population

Brooks

• Town in Oregon

• B

• C-

• 791 Population

Amity

• Town in Oregon
• 3

Current Resident: Amity is a great little farm community located in the heart of wine country. A 1 hr drive to the beach, Mt Hood, Portland, and 2 NCAA D1 schools makes amity a great location if you are looking to live in the center of all the best things Oregon has to offer.
Read 3 Reviews

• C+

• C

• 1,698 Population

Labish Village

• Town in Oregon

• C-

• C+

• 329 Population

Marion

• Town in Oregon

• D+

• C+

• 358 Population