Slidell-Mandeville-Covington receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Salem
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs66 · Top 29%
Growth
72 · Top 16%
vs68 · Top 22%
Climate
74 · Top 24%
vs78 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 30%
vs30 · Bottom 19%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 10%
vs91 · Bottom 38%
Access
69 · Bottom 37%
vs82 · Top 38%
Economic stability
68 · Top 28%
vs72 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Salem | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 438,906 | 272,421 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,900 | $81,202 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,986 | $43,364 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 228/sq mi | 322/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $424,100 | $284,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,399 | $1,332 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.8% | 78.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.4% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 37.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 11.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,819 | 1,090 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 15.9% | 8.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.1" | 61.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 50 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 33.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Salem
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Salem
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
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Full profiles: Salem, OR Metro Area · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology