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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Salem Metro

Salem, OR · 2 counties · 390,738 residents · 1,921.764 sq mi
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The short version

Salem has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $47,016. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $209,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
390,738
+13%since 2000
from 347,214 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
203 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 181 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
35.5
+4%since 2000
from 34.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
262K310K358K407K455K1990201020202024Salem
2024439K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,016
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,673 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,384
+21%since 2000
from $18,565 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
27.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
15.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.420
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information11.5%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 7%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$209,500
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $131,305 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$731
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
45.3%
−18.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
38.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
33.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.5
+38%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic71%(277,460)
Black0.8%(3,300)
Hispanic / Latino21.9%(85,682)
Asian1.8%(7,193)
Other4.4%(17,298)
Diversity Score55.7%(217,772)
Diversity Score
56
+43%since 2000
from 39 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
83.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
7.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+42%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
72.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 73.0% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
14.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
1.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
17.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
31.1%
−29.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
12.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.7%
−38.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+70%
Home value$257,300+23%
Population440,072−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Savannah
Income$77,692+65%
Home value$302,959+45%
Population438,314−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Wilmington
Income$76,547+63%
Home value$362,172+73%
Population492,772+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
York
Income$84,829+80%
Home value$248,600+19%
Population473,197+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, OR?

Salem, OR has about 390,738 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salem, OR?

The typical household in Salem, OR earns about $47,016 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 $209,500, and the typical rent is about $731 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, OR?

About 22.3% 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 15.4% 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 112,714 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.

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

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