Imperial Beach, CA 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.
Imperial Beach
62.9
#1815 nationally
Salem
73.2
#778 nationally
Imperial Beach leads in walk score (69 vs 27). Salem leads in crime level (7.2 vs 14.8). Salem leads in cost of living index (105 vs 167).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial Beach, CA | Salem, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.9 (#1815) | 73.2 (#778) |
| Population | 25,458 | 25,600 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $844,131 | $312,662 |
| Median Household Income | $75,731 | $68,402 |
| Average Commute | 27.2 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 27 |
| Crime Level | 14.8 | 7.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 167 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+16.8 | R+19.3 |
D-
62.9 Score
Imperial Beach, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$844,131
Population
25,458
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Imperial Beach, CA →
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
View Salem, VA →
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