Gresham, OR vs Salem, OR

Salem is moderately more affordable than Gresham, with a 11% lower cost of living index. Gresham scores 119 compared to 107 for Salem, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gresham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gresham is $1,508/month compared to $1,323/month in Salem — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salem is more affordable at $382,400 median vs $440,000.

Median household income in Gresham is $73,608 compared to $71,900 in Salem (+2.4%). Gresham does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Gresham spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Salem.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.7°F vs 54.1°F). Gresham receives more rainfall at 40.7" per year compared to 40.1" in Salem.