Salem, OR — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 176,666 · Oregon · Updated May 2026
Population
176,666
Median Income
$71,900
Home Price
$438,754
Unemployment
5.3%
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Bachelor's+
31.4%
Full Demographics — Salem, OR
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 176,666 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 12.2% | 13.8% | |
| White | 69.8% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 1.6% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 3.5% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 23.4% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $71,900 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $36,477 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,691 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 14.7% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 31.4% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $438,754 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 355 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3001 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 41.4% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.7% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 18.8% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.2% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.0°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 39.7 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.0 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Salem, OR | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 24.5 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Salem with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Salem, OR
Salem is a city in Oregon, United States. With a population of 176,666, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Salem shows stronger violent crime rate (355/100K violent crime vs 380/100K violent crime US avg) and commute time (25 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 31.4% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.