97301 and 97305 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
97301
97305
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 39%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Growth
74 · Top 10%
vs74 · Top 10%
Climate
74 · Top 36%
vs74 · Top 36%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 33%
vs42 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 19%
vs55 · Bottom 17%
Access
70 · Bottom 12%
vs74 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 21%
vs55 · Bottom 42%
Measured values
| Metric | 97301 | 97305 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,574 | 45,083 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,422 | $66,326 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,930 | $27,458 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,093/sq mi | 955/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $341,000 | $372,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,278 | $1,453 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 42.8% | 52.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.4% | 1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 17.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 19.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,177 | 1,177 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.6 | 6.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 67.7% | 67.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.1" | 40.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.6 | 31.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.41 | 21.66 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 89.1% | 88.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
97301
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
97305
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Full profiles: 97301 — Salem, OR · 97305 — Salem, OR · How this is calculated: methodology