Bellevue NE vs Salem OR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bellevue, NE

Nebraska · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$300,031
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Salem, OR

Oregon · Population: 176,666

  • Median HH Income$71,900
  • Median Home Price$438,754
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+31.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
176,666
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
N/A
Median Age
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
35.7
Foreign Born
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
12.2%
White
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
69.8%
Black
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
1.6%
Asian
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
3.5%
Hispanic
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
23.4%
Spanish at Home
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
$71,900
Per Capita Income
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
$36,477
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bellevue
$66,354
Bellevue +
Salem
$63,691
Unemployment Rate
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
5.3%
Poverty Rate
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
14.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
31.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bellevue
$300,031
Bellevue +
Salem
$438,754
Homeownership Rate
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
55.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
294
Bellevue +
Salem
355
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
1960
Bellevue +
Salem
3001

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
37.4%
Bellevue +
Salem
41.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
10.9%
Bellevue +
Salem
11.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bellevue
14.3%
Bellevue +
Salem
18.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
9.9%
Bellevue +
Salem
11.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
17.1%
Salem
16.2%
Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
12.6%
Salem
12.4%
Salem +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
53.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
39.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bellevue
7.6 µg/m³
Bellevue +
Salem
9.0 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bellevue
75.0%
Bellevue +
Salem
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bellevue
N/A
Salem
24.5 min

Which City is Right for You?

Bellevue offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $300,031. On public safety, Bellevue is safer with a violent crime rate of 294 per 100,000 residents, compared to 355 in Salem. Bellevue has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bellevue scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Bellevue & Salem