Houston, TX vs Salem, MA
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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 48). Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 135). Salem leads in median household income ($79,196 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 70 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 4.2 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+20.3 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
D+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →