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METRO AREA

Salem Metro

Salem, OR · 2 counties · 445,814 residents (2025 est.) · 1,921.764 sq mi
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The short version

Salem has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,938. Population has grown 26% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $424,224. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 77%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
438,906
+26%since 2000
from 347,214 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
228 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 181 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.6
+10%since 2000
from 34.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:445,814 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
262K310K358K407K455K1990201020202024Salem
2024439K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,938
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,673 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,986
+105%since 2000
from $18,565 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.2%
+25.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+5%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$424,224
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $131,305 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,391
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
37.2% rent
Vacancy rate
4.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.4
+66%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
71
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.1%(271,274)
Black0.7%(2,503)
Hispanic / Latino15.6%(54,194)
Asian1.6%(5,576)
Other0%
Diversity Score39%(135,330)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.4%(278,184)
Black1.1%(4,675)
Hispanic / Latino26.2%(115,154)
Asian1.9%(8,548)
Other7.4%(32,345)
Diversity Score65.4%(287,221)
Segregation Score29.8%(130,814)
Diversity Score
65
+68%since 2000
from 39 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
−14%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.2%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.4 min
+51%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 73.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 62.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.7%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
12.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.5%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 81.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.2%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 77.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
18.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 18.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

SalemCENTRAL181,779
What's inside

2 component counties

Marion CountyCENTRAL355,777Polk CountyCENTRAL90,037
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Salem

Reading
Pop 440,072
Savannah
Pop 438,314
Wilmington
Pop 492,772
York
Pop 473,197
Places similar to Salem
Head to head

Compare Salem side by side

SALEM VS
Reading
Income$79,777+1%
Home value$257,300−39%
Population440,072−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Savannah
Income$77,692−2%
Home value$302,959−29%
Population438,314−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Wilmington
Income$76,547−3%
Home value$362,172−15%
Population492,772+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
York
Income$84,829+7%
Home value$248,600−41%
Population473,197+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, OR?

Salem, OR has about 438,906 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salem, OR?

The typical household in Salem, OR earns about $78,938 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Salem, OR expensive?

In Salem, OR, the median home is worth about $424,224, and the typical rent is about $1,391 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, OR?

About 27.1% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, OR hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Salem, OR?

About 13.0% of people in Salem, OR live below the federal poverty line.

Has Salem, OR grown since 1990?

Yes, Salem, OR has grown since 1990. The population has added about 160,882 residents, a change of about 58 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Salem, OR: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy