Crawfordsville, IN vs Salem, IN

Crawfordsville, IN and Salem, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Crawfordsville scores 69 while Salem scores 66 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crawfordsville is $831/month compared to $736/month in Salem — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Salem has cheaper rent, Crawfordsville actually has lower median home values ($134,100 vs $136,800).

Median household income in Crawfordsville is $49,327 compared to $51,786 in Salem (-4.7%). Salem offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Crawfordsville spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 17.1% in Salem.