City profile
Salem, OR
Oregon’s capital in the Willamette Valley wine country, cheaper than Portland.
Climate
Climate type
Mild & temperate
Winter avg
41°F
Summer avg
67°F
Sunny days / yr
150
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$440,000
Typical monthly housing
$2,723
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
110
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.86%
- State income tax (top)
- 9.9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- None
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Earthquake, Heat wave, Volcanic activity
Nearest major airport
50 mi to Portland International Airport (PDX)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 46% Democratic / 51% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
178,865
Growth since 2019
+5.7%
Median age
36.0
Residents 65+
16.1%
Median household income
$75,487
Income growth since 2019
+35.0%
Black household income
$87,440
Home ownership
55.9%
Poverty rate
14.4%
Poverty rate, 65+
12.1%
Race & ethnicity: Black 1.6% · White 61.3% · Hispanic 25.4% · Asian 3.6% · Other 8.2%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
424 · 29% above the national average
Property crime
2,365 · 52% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Salem Police Department. State average: violent 319, property 2,184.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire smoke, earthquakes
Highlights
- Wine country
- Cheaper than Portland
- Mild winters
Trade-offs
- Rainy winters
- Small Black community
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.