Sacramento, 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.
Sacramento
66.2
#1576 nationally
Salem
67.1
#1465 nationally
Salem leads in average commute (22.7 min vs 26.2 min). Sacramento leads in walk score (47 vs 42). Sacramento leads in median household income ($73,924 vs $67,540).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1576) | 67.1 (#1465) |
| Population | 528,001 | 177,432 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $480,488 | $440,726 |
| Median Household Income | $73,924 | $67,540 |
| Average Commute | 26.2 min | 22.7 min |
| Walk Score | 47 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 14.6 |
| School Rating | 5.6 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 123 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.7 | R+2.0 |
D
66.2 Score
Sacramento, CA
California's capital with farm-to-fork pride
Median Home
$480,488
Population
528,001
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Pacific
View Sacramento, 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 →