Best for affordability: Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and rent.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Salem vs Austin on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 3 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
SalemAustin
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on daily convenience, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 175,535 | 974,447 |
| Population Density | 3.6k /sq mi | 2.9k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 161 ft(49 m) | 489 ft(149 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $427,939 | $489,253 |
| Median Rent | $1,638 | $1,538 |
| Median Income | $67,540 | $86,556 |
| Rent Burden | 29% | 21% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 269 days/yr | 306 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 64°F | 80°F |
| Comfort Score | 70/100Good | 72/100Great |
| Temp Swing | 40°F | 35°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 49"(124 cm) | 49"(124 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 4"(10 cm) | 1"(3 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 31 (Avg)0 days > 100 | AQI 43 (Avg)25 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 31 | 27 |
| Safety Score | 64 / 100 | 62 / 100 |
| School Rating | 4.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 12%Cable: 94% | Fiber: 58%Cable: 95% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 35.9 years | 34.2 years |
| College Educated | 31% | 56% |
| Remote Workers | 12% | 23% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Salem | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Austin |
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