Salem, OR Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 435,085 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Salem, OR Metro Area

What is the median household income in Salem, OR Metro Area?: The median household income in Salem, OR Metro Area is $76,010 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Salem, OR Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Salem, OR Metro Area is 9.1% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Salem, OR Metro Area?: $389,800 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Salem, OR Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Salem, OR Metro Area is $1,324 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Salem, OR Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 26.9% of adults in Salem, OR Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

435,085

Median Income

$76,010

Median Home Value

$389,800

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.2%

Median Age

37.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$15,832 (+26.3%) Home Value: +$139,000 (+55.4%) Poverty Rate: -0.5 pp (-5.2%) Bachelor's+: +2.0 pp (+8%) Unemployment: -0.5 pp (-8.8%)

Demographics

Total Population 435,085

Median Age 37.0

Female 50.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 25.6% White (non-Hisp.) 64.4% Black 1.1% Asian 2.0% Two or More 14.0% Other 9.3%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Chinese

0.4%

Filipino

0.4%

Indian

0.2%

Korean

0.2%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Japanese

0.2%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

22.2%

Puerto Rican

0.3%

Cuban

0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $76,010 ±$1,389

Per Capita Income $97,621

Median Family Income $90,097

Poverty Rate 9.1%

Child Poverty Rate 14.3%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 19.4%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 26.6%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

3.9%

$10–15k

3.8%

$15–25k

6.4%

$25–35k

6.9%

$35–50k

11.0%

$50–75k

17.3%

$75–100k

13.4%

$100–150k

19.7%

$150–200k

9.2%

$200k+

8.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 165,046

Owner-Occupied 62.7%

Renter-Occupied 37.3%

Vacancy Rate 4.3%

Median Home Value $389,800

Median Gross Rent $1,324

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 23.0%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 43.5%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

5.0%

$50–100k

2.5%

$100–200k

2.5%

$200–300k

14.2%

$300–500k

46.4%

$500k–$1M

24.2%

$1M+

2.7%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

4.9%

$500–1k

16.5%

$1–1.5k

43.8%

$1.5–2k

24.6%

$2–2.5k

7.3%

$2.5–3.5k

1.8%

$3.5k+

1.1%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

6.0%

1 vehicle

30.0%

2 vehicles

37.5%

26.4%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

63.7%

Single-fam. att.

3.6%

2–4 units

3.0%

5–19 units

6.2%

20+ units

6.4%

Mobile home

7.1%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

7.9%

1940–1969

3.9%

1970–1999

21.1%

2000–2009

14.1%

2010+

8.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 87.2%

Bachelor's or Higher 26.9%

Graduate Degree 9.5%

Some College / Associate 25.6%

Less Than High School 6.2%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 61.3%

Unemployment Rate 5.2%

Work from Home 12.6%

Self-Employed 5.5%

Government Workers 19.3%

Private For-Profit 75.0%

Industry

Edu/Health

23.2%

Retail

11.9%

Manufacturing

9.2%

Prof. Services

9.0%

Construction

8.8%

Public Admin

8.7%

Arts/Entmt.

8.5%

Finance

5.1%

Agriculture

4.7%

Transportation

3.7%

Wholesale

2.0%

Information

0.9%

Occupation

Management

35.7%

Sales

20.0%

Food Prep

19.1%

Production

13.5%

Construction

11.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 24.5 min

Drove Alone 70.9%

Carpool 11.0%

Public Transit 1.2%

Work from Home 12.6%

Walked 2.4%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 157,987

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 49.2%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 19.5%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.9%

5–9

6.6%

10–14

6.8%

15–19

7.1%

20–24

6.8%

25–34

13.7%

35–44

13.0%

45–54

11.6%

55–64

5.7%

65–74

5.9%

75–84

10.1%

85+

4.9%

Under 18: 23.5% Working age (18–64): 76.5% 65 and over: 16.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 12.0%

Naturalized Citizen 38.4%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 9.6%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

70.9%

Asia

12.7%

Europe

8.4%

Africa

2.1%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 7.5%

With a Disability 15.8%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 92.0%

Uninsured 8.0%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 91.1%

Has a Computer 96.0%

Same House 1 Year Ago 86.5%

Moved from Abroad 0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023