BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Salem, OR

B
Score
54/100
Rank #69 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Salem is a strong match for remote work if you value typical rent (2br), plus broadband subscription. Overall, it performs well across the scorecard (#69 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · OR rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Salem ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,337/mo (7% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 92% (1% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 14% (13% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 13% (19% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 31% (9% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
176,666
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 51%Female 49%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,337/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
14%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
92%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$71,900
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
31%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
13%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
74/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
92/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
25/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
87/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

11%
Less than HS
57%
HS / Some college
19%
Bachelor’s
12%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

14%
Work from home
86%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

92%
Broadband
8%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,337/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
92%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
14%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$71,900
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
31%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
13%

Similar cities (by score)

#67 Fort Wayne, IN
55/100
#68 Chattanooga, TN
54/100
#70 Grand Rapids, MI
54/100
#71 Aurora, IL
54/100

FAQ

›What is Salem’s remote work score and rank?
Salem, OR scores B (54/100) and ranks #69 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Salem city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Salem, OR?
Population is about 176,666 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Salem, OR?
About 51% male and 49% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Salem, OR?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,337/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Salem, OR?
Work-from-home share is 14% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Salem, OR?
Broadband subscription is 92% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Salem, OR?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 11%, HS/some college 57%, bachelor’s 19%, advanced 12%.
›Where does this data come from for Salem, OR?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).