Salem Metro Area, OR Local Data & Statistics

State: OR

Total population: 438,906 Household income: $78,900 Rent: $1,399

Overview

Total population

438,906

Rent

$1,399

Year built

1981

Household income

$78,900

Per capita income

$37,986

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Total population

438,906

Adults over 25

294,271

Total households

159,856

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$78,900

Per capita income

$37,986

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

51.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,399

Year built

1981

Households that rent

37.2%

Households that own

62.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

68.6%

Black

1.1%

Asian

Two or more races

16%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

26.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

73.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.4%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

13.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

35.6%

High school graduate or GED

25.2%

Some college or associate degree

12.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

27.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Salem Metro Area, OR with: Oregon United States

Salem Metro Area

Total population438,906

Rent$1,399

Year built1981

Household income$78,900

Per capita income$37,986

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate4.1%

Oregon State

Total population4,254,293

Rent$1,525

Year built1981

Household income$83,011

Per capita income$45,612

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	Metro AreaSalem Metro Area	StateOregon	CountryUnited States
Total population	438,906	4,254,293	334,922,499
Rent	$1,399	$1,525	$1,413
Year built	1981	1981	1980
Household income	$78,900	$83,011	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,986	$45,612	$44,673
Poverty rate	13%	11.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Salem Metro Area, Oregon and United States →

Summary for Salem Metro Area, OR

Salem metro area is located in OR.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,399, while the typical household income is $78,900. Rent in this metro area is lower than Oregon and similar to the U.S., and household income is similar to both Oregon and the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 37.2% of households. About 51.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 13%, which is higher than the Oregon rate and similar to the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 4.1%, which is similar to both the Oregon rate and the national rate.

Salem Metro Area, OR — Rent vs Household Income

Salem Metro Area, OR — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Salem Metro Area, OR (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,399 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Salem Metro Area, OR

Annual Household Income: $78,900

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Salem Metro Area, OR

Estimated Rate: 13%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Salem Metro Area, OR

In Salem Metro Area, OR, households that rent: 59,459 (37.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	59,459	37.2%
Owner-Occupied	100,397	62.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Salem Metro Area, OR

In Salem Metro Area, OR, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 30,412 (51.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	30,412	51.1%
Other renter households	29,047	48.9%
Total renter households	59,459	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Salem Metro Area, OR

Less than High School: 104,706 people (35.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 74,220 people (25.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 35,638 people (12.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 79,707 people (27.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 294,271

📊 Unemployment Rate in Salem Metro Area, OR

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.