Salem receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Independence
Salem
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs61 · Top 39%
Growth
27 · Bottom 14%
vs74 · Top 12%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs42 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 36%
vs65 · Bottom 27%
Access
69 · Bottom 11%
vs69 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs52 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Independence | Salem | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,199 | 178,865 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,375 | $75,487 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,794 | $38,066 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,394/sq mi | 3,654/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $378,800 | $416,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,665 | $1,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.6% | 55.9% | 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 | 27.0% | 31.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 14.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 1,177 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 6.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | 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 | 51 mi | 50 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.7 | 36.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 55 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.86 | 21.17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 94.1% | 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
Independence
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Salem
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Independence
59
Your Score
57
Area Score
Salem
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Independence, OR · Salem, OR · How this is calculated: methodology