The Town FilesSalem, Oregon
City in Marion County · population 175,535 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $416,900
- Household income
- $75,487
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 36.0
Salem is a city of 175,535 people in Marion County, Oregon. The median home is worth $416,900, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 90% of Oregon towns, better for cycling than 85% of Oregon towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $416,900, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $75,487, which is more affordable than 40% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,400 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $416,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,400 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $75,487 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 35.8°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 14, 2010 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 14, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on April 29, 2003.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 24, 2023 | Fire | FM-5483: Liberty Fire |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4599: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5356: Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire Complex |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 171,271 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,787 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Salem
58 public schools with 32,601 students, about 20.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Salem High School | 9-12 | 2,310 | 23.3 |
| McKay High School | 9-12 | 2,299 | 23.0 |
| North Salem High School | 9-12 | 2,176 | 20.5 |
| Sprague High School | 9-12 | 1,765 | 24.5 |
| West Salem High School | 9-12 | 1,666 | 23.8 |
| Stephens Middle School | 6-8 | 1,041 | 20.8 |
| Waldo Middle School | 6-8 | 1,035 | 18.5 |
| Houck Middle School | 6-8 | 873 | 21.8 |
| Crossler Middle School | 6-8 | 833 | 21.9 |
| Judson Middle School | 6-8 | 772 | 21.4 |
| Leslie Middle School | 6-8 | 735 | 20.4 |
| Parrish Middle School | 6-8 | 674 | 20.4 |
Towns near Salem
- Four Corners, OR2.5 mi · 16,740 people · home $340,200
- Hayesville, OR4.5 mi · 21,891 people · home $365,400
- Keizer, OR5.5 mi · 39,376 people · home $434,100
- Aumsville, OR9.2 mi · 4,234 people · home $296,400
- Independence, OR9.7 mi · 9,828 people · home $378,800
- Monmouth, OR11.2 mi · 11,110 people · home $413,200
- Sublimity, OR13.0 mi · 2,967 people · home $480,800
- Silverton, OR13.0 mi · 10,484 people · home $484,800
Salem questions
Is Salem, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 12% of Oregon towns and quieter than 6%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $416,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,487, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,400 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 35.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 14, 2010. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)