Here's what it costs to live in Salem, Oregon, based on the latest US government data. Renters pay a median of $1,400 per month, while the typical home is valued around $416,900. Households earn a median of $75,487 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 32. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$75,487
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,400
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$416,900
Median Home Value
Census ACS
N/A
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,181
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,201
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,560
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,159
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | N/A |
| Registered Nurse | N/A |
| Elementary Teacher | N/A |
| Electrician | N/A |
| Accountant | N/A |
| Plumber | N/A |
| Nurse Practitioner | N/A |
| Civil Engineer | N/A |
| Operations Manager | N/A |
| Market Research Analyst | N/A |
| Health Services Manager | N/A |
| Truck Driver | N/A |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
178,865
Latest estimate
Median Age
36 yrs
Census ACS
32.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
8
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,267
Per month
Avg Home Value
$360,329
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 97301 | — | $1,118 | $274,900 |
| ZIP 97302 | — | $1,172 | $381,700 |
| ZIP 97303 | — | $1,249 | $365,800 |
| ZIP 97304 | — | $1,332 | $426,900 |
| ZIP 97305 | — | $1,284 | $314,800 |
| ZIP 97306 | — | $1,392 | $388,300 |
| ZIP 97310 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 97317 | — | $1,325 | $369,900 |
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
69°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.1
poor
Hospitals
2
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
92.6%
The cost of living index for Salem is not yet available.
The median gross rent in Salem is $1,400 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Salem is $75,487 per year.
The median home value in Salem is $416,900 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Salem has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 32.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Oregon is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
