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Salem, OR

Census place 4164900 · pop 178,865

D−44/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in OR
📍 Oregon ranks #31 of 50 states →
🏆 Air35 AQI · top 11%
🚽 Obesity41.4% · bottom 13%
💡 Did you know?

The capital of Oregon, sitting in the agricultural heart of the Willamette Valley.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.96% property · US 0.99%None sales · US 7.00%up to 9.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity41.4%13

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.5%21

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level97/10023

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

97/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health18.8%24

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Homeownership55.9%28

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

55.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Housing cost$416,90028

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$416,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Uninsured adults11.6%34

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate14.4%37

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

14.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level4 days41

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

4 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.4443

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property-tax burden0.96%51

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.96% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Median household income$75,48751

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$75,487 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher31.5%53

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

31.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access92.3%56

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking12.4%59

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Rent$1,599/mo62

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,599/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time22 min62

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Population growth (5yr)+5.7%67

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity21.3%71

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

21.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level35 AQI89

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

35 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Salem: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Salem, OR a good place to live?
By the numbers, Salem scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is adult obesity. Oregon overall ranks #31 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Salem, OR expensive to live in?
Salem has a median home value of $416,900 and typical rent around $1,599/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Salem, OR?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (41.4%) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Salem, OR best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (35 AQI) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: The capital of Oregon, sitting in the agricultural heart of the Willamette Valley.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.