Name: Salem, OR
Rating: 0.0

( 23 Ratings )

Living in Salem, OR

Ranks better than 79% of areas Follow

Population

171,806

Median Age

35.9 Years

Salem Area Facts

Salem has a Livability Score of 79_/100, which is considered exceptional
Salem crime rates are 25% higher than the Oregon average
Cost of living in Salem is 4% higher than the Oregon average

What do the locals think about Salem?

56%

Family friendly

50%

Public transit is accessible

44%

Walkable to grocery stores

50%

Yards are well-kept

67%

Lots of parks

28%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

44%

A quiet area

56%

Sense of community

Based on 18 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Salem Reviews

Write a review about Salem Tell people what you like or don't like about Salem…

PLEASE READ BEFORE MOVING TO SALEM OR OREGON. 2 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 06, 2019) Please make sure you have a job lined up. I'm meeting a lot of people who are having to move back to other states or are really struggling because most places don't pay past $10--12 (even bank tellers, medical/nurse aids) and if you have a family to feed without any plans in sig ...Read More ht moving here might not be a good idea. The housing assistance list has a long wait---so if you plan on moving here "for an easy ride" it might take a while. Most Jobs require a current Oregon ID and license/background check as well----so if you're illegal, you will have a hard time finding a job. 66% of us voted against giving illegals drivers licenses----Portland progressives might want illegals here but the majority of us DO NOT. Portland is great for progressives but the rest of the state is strict and law enforcement are quick to do their jobs without pity. We are "down the middle" as far as politics go. In a nutshell: Oregon wages are VERY low. Rents are very high and employers are picky. Property taxes are very expensive. I would not recomment moving here unless you have a career and a job lined up. I was lucky enough to be able to transfer with my company. PLAN AHEAD, don't move here on a whim. The other reviews are right about the weather----cloudy, rainy, snow isnt too bad but we get a lot of icy roads (esp around Salem) Read Less

Salem has changed drastically in the 5 years living here for the worse. 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 04, 2019) I am a large business owner and resident of Salem for 5 years. The last 2 years have noticed a HUGE increase in crime and the homeless. Where once I would say it was crimeless and I would let my kids and wife walk anywhere and anytime, even me at 6'5" with a carry permit would be ...Read More cautious in most commercial areas of Salam. There are for sure NO GO areas in Salem, downtown is not half bad (but not good by any standards) but when you go to where the tweakers are, you know you are in the wrong location. The dug and homeless situation is out of control. My business has had multiple attempted breakins this year. And in the last week, we have had 2 commercial trucks broken into, one private truck borken into and an attempt to break into our business. They now are literally captured on security camera 2 times per week minimum for the last 4 months. Salem PD is fast to respond but not fast enough for these guys to cut and run fast. Read Less

They Call it So-Lame... 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 26, 2019) ...and that's fine by me because it will dissuade all the hipsters and techies and other annoying Cool Kids getting pushed out of Portland by the housing prices from moving here.

Salem isn't a large city, so certain things are missing like a good variety of ethnic food. The one ...Read More s that do exist can get away with subpar food because there isn't any competition. Nightlife is more lowkey than Portland, but more thoughtful and less cringe-worthy. There are actual opportunities here for serious artists and craftspeople, unlike Portland which is over-saturated with pretentious post-post-modernist "Social Practice" and Instagram artists. The Salem Art Association has many events and a bunch of other smaller organizations and studios offer classes and opportunities to show work. The school district honors the Native Tribes by putting on a cultural festival and there are numerous art galleries hidden on the way out to the coast. You can drive a couple miles and find at least a few farmstands for fresh fruit and veg. Living within two miles of downtown is nice because you can walk down tree-lined streets on actual sidewalks, surrounded by early 20th century bungalows and catalog homes that have a lot of charm and a cottage community feel. The people here are much more down-to-Earth and "chill" than Portland. There are pockets of high-crime, druggie areas, but they're easy to avoid. I never feel afraid walking around in the area of NE that I'm in, more afraid of the random speeders down D St than other threats. It's also nice to see a more balanced political landscape instead of the mob-rule style of Portland.

So, let them call it So-Lame, leave Salem a city for the working and middle class...stay in Portland PLEASE. Read Less

Wonderful and Underrated 5 rating By Oregongirl ( May 17, 2018) Salem is often unfairly dismissed as boring and frequently treated like the bland stepsister of Portland.How unfortunate because Salem has so much to offer: beautiful parks, gardens and public spaces.Additionally residents enjoy a vibrant dining scene, numerous community events ( ...Read More see Salem365), a huge variety of entertainment options including community theatre and music performances.Drive a few minutes in any direction from the downtown core (yes, Salem has an actual downtown!) and you're in the middle of beautiful agricultural areas, award winning vineyards and wineries. An hour west is the amazing Oregon coastline, an hour north is Portland and two hours east is the high desert.Excellent medical care, schools, and endless volunteer opportunities make Salem even more desirable.I've barely scratched the surface of all Salem,Oregon is. It's truly an underrated gem. Read Less

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They Call it So-Lame... 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 26, 2019) ...and that's fine by me because it will dissuade all the hipsters and techies and other annoying Cool Kids getting pushed out of Portland by the housing prices from moving here.

Salem isn't a large city, so certain things are missing like a good variety of ethnic food. The one ...Read More s that do exist can get away with subpar food because there isn't any competition. Nightlife is more lowkey than Portland, but more thoughtful and less cringe-worthy. There are actual opportunities here for serious artists and craftspeople, unlike Portland which is over-saturated with pretentious post-post-modernist "Social Practice" and Instagram artists. The Salem Art Association has many events and a bunch of other smaller organizations and studios offer classes and opportunities to show work. The school district honors the Native Tribes by putting on a cultural festival and there are numerous art galleries hidden on the way out to the coast. You can drive a couple miles and find at least a few farmstands for fresh fruit and veg. Living within two miles of downtown is nice because you can walk down tree-lined streets on actual sidewalks, surrounded by early 20th century bungalows and catalog homes that have a lot of charm and a cottage community feel. The people here are much more down-to-Earth and "chill" than Portland. There are pockets of high-crime, druggie areas, but they're easy to avoid. I never feel afraid walking around in the area of NE that I'm in, more afraid of the random speeders down D St than other threats. It's also nice to see a more balanced political landscape instead of the mob-rule style of Portland.

So, let them call it So-Lame, leave Salem a city for the working and middle class...stay in Portland PLEASE. Read Less

Wonderful and Underrated 5 rating By Oregongirl ( May 17, 2018) Salem is often unfairly dismissed as boring and frequently treated like the bland stepsister of Portland.How unfortunate because Salem has so much to offer: beautiful parks, gardens and public spaces.Additionally residents enjoy a vibrant dining scene, numerous community events ( ...Read More see Salem365), a huge variety of entertainment options including community theatre and music performances.Drive a few minutes in any direction from the downtown core (yes, Salem has an actual downtown!) and you're in the middle of beautiful agricultural areas, award winning vineyards and wineries. An hour west is the amazing Oregon coastline, an hour north is Portland and two hours east is the high desert.Excellent medical care, schools, and endless volunteer opportunities make Salem even more desirable.I've barely scratched the surface of all Salem,Oregon is. It's truly an underrated gem. Read Less

Good if you live in the right spot. 3 rating By gf503 ( Jan 06, 2014) First off going by the statistics regarding education, crime and cost of living in Salem is a big mistake. Like all places all things are not equal. There are three distinct parts of Salem, being North Salem and South Salem. There is also an area across the the Marion ST bridge w ...Read More hich is known as West Salem. West Salem and South Salem have the nicest areas in terms of low crime, good elementary schools however rent and home prices are much higher in those areas. An average three bedroom house rents for about $1300 a month plus all utilities.

Restaurants and attractions are few and far between. The coast is about a ninety minute drive but forget about swimming, snorkeling etc... it is eye candy only. Read Less

Salem, OR - A Great Place to Live 5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 21, 2011) Living in Salem, Oregon for the past few years has been a wonderful experience. Since it is the state capital, it is fun to tour the building and take in some of the history in the area. Since it is the end of the Oregon trail there are some interesting things to see.

The coast ...Read More is close and you can get there in about an hour. It is beautiful and a great place to stay for a couple of days. Rain is something everyone in this part of Oregon learns to live with and the coast is no exception. It is not a good place to sunbath or play in the ocean. Sightseeing is the best though and the views are amazing.

Portland is close and offers a bigger city feel. It is also a beautiful area full of evergreen trees, gorgeous scenery and lots of water. The drive is easy and you can be there in a little less then an hour. There is a large airport and so traveling out of the area is easy. Restaurants, shows and special activities are always available in Portland.

Oregon is a great place to live and anyone who loves nature and the outdoors will be happy to call this place home. I know I am. Read Less

Salem Awards

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Compare Salem, OR Livability

Salem, OR

In many ways, Salem, Oregon is like a younger sibling of nearby urban hub Portland: Although the two cities are only an hour's drive from one another, in fact, each locale has its own distinct feel and culture.

In contrast to the sheen of Portland's glassy skyscrapers and new apartment buildings, for example, a stroll through Salem's downtown can often feel decidedly more like a step back in time. A handful of cozy cafes, theaters, bookstores, and museums has made this area a favorite with locals, and as the capitol city of Oregon, Salem is home to a beautiful district of administrative centers and stunning state buildings. Early founders of Salem had strong ties to the Methodist church, and the area around the capitol building still features block after block of historic church-houses.

Compared with other hot spots on the West Coast such as San Francisco and Seattle, Salem is also reasonably affordable. However, Salem's proximity to Portland's booming housing market does make it slightly more expensive than other regions of the country. (Although its economy is smaller, Salem's housing market seems to always keep pace with its larger neighbor city.)

Public transportation here is also fast and affordable. The city's "Cherriots" bus line provides residents with regular service throughout most of the city, and monthly passes guaranteeing unlimited bus service cost around $45. Cherriots also provides a low-cost "pick up" service for ill and infirm customers; this service allows local residents to make runs to grocery stores and doctor appointments. Amtrak also provides locals and visitors with regular service from a historic train station here.

As you might expect from a state capitol, one of the biggest employers in the city is the local government. Oregon's Department of Revenue and Department of Justice are located just a few blocks from the city's downtown, and other big employers in the area include Willamette University and Salem Hospital. These institutions lie only a few blocks from one another near the Capitol Building and downtown.

Also nearby is Salem's historic Mission Street neighborhood. Here Victorian mansions such as the Deepwood Estate and Bush House sit cozily alongside charming cottages and classic family homes. The sprawling Bush's Pasture Park lies at the center of this neighborhood; it remains a favorite gathering place for city residents and visitors on sunny days.

Nearby to the Mission Street district are the leafy neighborhoods of South Salem and West Salem. These areas are home to some of the most beautiful houses in the city; in contrast to Portland's skyrocketing housing market, however, gorgeous homes in these neighborhoods can still be found at a fraction of the cost of similar homes in Portland.

For people considering a move to this charming city, the best way to get to know Salem is to simply walk around its central area for a few hours at a time: The city is small enough that a vigorous stroll around Salem's center will give visitors a good feel for what this place is all about. Indeed, grabbing a coffee and exploring Salem’s charming neighborhoods can be a learning experience in and of itself.