Salem, MA vs Walnut, CA
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.
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Walnut
63.3
#1785 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 32). Walnut leads in median household income ($130,444 vs $79,196). Salem leads in cost of living index (135 vs 197).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Salem, MA | Walnut, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1307) | 63.3 (#1785) |
| Population | 44,744 | 27,104 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $614,321 | $1,188,533 |
| Median Household Income | $79,196 | $130,444 |
| Average Commute | 30.6 min | 35.1 min |
| Walk Score | 70 | 32 |
| Crime Level | 4.2 | 3.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 135 | 197 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.3 | D+32.9 |
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 →
D
63.3 Score
Walnut, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,188,533
Population
27,104
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Pacific
View Walnut, CA →