Mercer Island, WA 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.
Mercer Island
64.9
#1667 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Mercer Island leads in crime level (1.0 vs 4.2). Mercer Island leads in median household income ($190,985 vs $79,196). Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 33).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mercer Island, WA | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 64.9 (#1667) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 24,742 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $2,295,406 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $190,985 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 264 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+20.3 |
D
64.9 Score
Mercer Island, WA
Small Washington city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,295,406
Population
24,742
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
33
Pacific
View Mercer Island, WA →
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 →