Denver, CO vs Salem, OR
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Denver
69.1
#1250 nationally
Salem
67.1
#1465 nationally
Denver leads in walk score (61 vs 42). Denver leads in median household income ($85,853 vs $67,540). Salem leads in average commute (22.7 min vs 26.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Denver, CO | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.1 (#1250) | 67.1 (#1465) |
| Population | 713,252 | 177,432 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $533,060 | $440,726 |
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $67,540 |
| Average Commute | 26.4 min | 22.7 min |
| Walk Score | 61 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 14.6 |
| School Rating | 6.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+56.1 | R+2.0 |
D+
69.1 Score
Denver, CO
Mile High City with mountain access
Median Home
$533,060
Population
713,252
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
West
View Denver, CO →
D+
67.1 Score
Salem, OR
Mid-size Oregon city with community character
Median Home
$440,726
Population
177,432
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
42
Pacific
View Salem, OR →