| Measure | SalemOregon, United States Remove Salem | OlympiaWashington, United States Remove Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 6.3 | 6.0 |
| Connector Score | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| Safety | 5.6 | 9.0 |
| Affordability | 5.7 | 5.5 |
| Transportation | 10.0 | 6.5 |
| Car-free friendliness | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Walkability | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Things to do | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Food & dining | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Places to stay | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Nature & outdoors | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| Scenic value | 6.3 | 5.5 |
| Family friendliness | 7.1 | 7.8 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 4.9 | 5.8 |
| Nightlife | 3.2 | 2.7 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 5.6 | 5.2 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 7.1 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $122 | $138 |
| Mid-range | $175 | $203 |
| Luxury | $299 | $325 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 108 | 110 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,400 | $1,650 |
| Median home price | $417,000 | $486,200 |
| Population | 182K | 57K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Train |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Salem | — | 3 h 26 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel, History | Families |
| Known for | National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Shopping, Family & kids | Beaches, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Shopping, Family & kids |
| When to go | Peak: July to September and State Fair week… | Peak: July-August and legislative session mid… |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.