Houston, TX vs Salem, VA
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
73.2
#778 nationally
Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 27). Salem leads in average commute (18.8 min vs 28.5 min). Salem leads in median household income ($68,402 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Salem, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 73.2 (#778) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 25,600 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $312,662 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $68,402 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 27 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 7.2 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+19.3 |
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
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C
73.2 Score
Salem, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$312,662
Population
25,600
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
27
Northeast
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