Signals
White Oak
Salem
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 46%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Climate
72 · Top 42%
vs63 · Bottom 27%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 18%
vs78 · Top 27%
Housing affordability
49 · Bottom 9%
vs52 · Bottom 12%
Access
91 · Bottom 47%
vs98 · Top 15%
Economic stability
65 · Top 40%
vs64 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | White Oak | Salem | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,329 | 44,795 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,370 | $85,153 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,184 | $50,339 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,549/sq mi | 5,401/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $574,000 | $542,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,808 | $1,836 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 25.7% | 49.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.4% | 47.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 12.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.6 min | 31.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 39.3 | 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
White Oak
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Salem
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.
Full profiles: White Oak, MD · Salem, MA · How this is calculated: methodology