Menlo Park, CA 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.
Menlo Park
65.4
#1635 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Menlo Park leads in median household income ($198,273 vs $79,196). Salem leads in crime level (4.2 vs 6.3). Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 58).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Menlo Park, CA | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 65.4 (#1635) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 31,690 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $2,890,071 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $198,273 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 25.5 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 58 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 6.3 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | N/A | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+20.3 |
D
65.4 Score
Menlo Park, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,890,071
Population
31,690
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Menlo Park, CA →
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 →