Imperial, CA 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.
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
Salem
67.1
#1465 nationally
Imperial leads in crime level (2.1 vs 14.6). Imperial leads in average commute (18.1 min vs 22.7 min). Imperial leads in median household income ($83,029 vs $67,540).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.3 (#996) | 67.1 (#1465) |
| Population | 21,591 | 177,432 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $445,376 | $440,726 |
| Median Household Income | $83,029 | $67,540 |
| Average Commute | 18.1 min | 22.7 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 42 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | 14.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | R+2.0 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that Salem has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →
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 →