Salem, OR

Census Place

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2023 Population
176,666
0.519% 1-year growth
US Senator
Ron Wyden
Democratic Party
US Senator
Jeff Merkley
Democratic Party
2023 Median Age
35.7
0.557% 1-year decrease
2023 Poverty Rate
14.7%
0.36% 1-year increase
2023 Median Household Income
$71,900
6.46% 1-year growth
2023 Median Property Value
$382,400
9.41% 1-year growth
2023 Employed Population
81,576
1.76% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Salem, OR had a population of 177k people with a median age of 35.7 and a median household income of $71,900. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Salem, OR grew from 175,754 to 176,666, a 0.519% increase and its median household income grew from $67,540 to $71,900, a 6.46% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Salem, OR are White (Non-Hispanic) (63.9%), Other (Hispanic) (7.66%), Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) (6.37%), White (Hispanic) (5.84%), and Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) (4.3%).

None of the households in Salem, OR reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.4% of the residents in Salem, OR are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Salem, OR are Willamette University (594 degrees awarded in 2023), Corban University (329 degrees), and College of Hair Design Careers (62 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Salem, OR was $382,400, and the homeownership rate was 55.7%.

Most people in Salem, OR drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Salem, OR was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Oregon State Capitol building
Photo by Jasperdo
United StatesOregonMarion County, ORPolk County, ORSalem, ORMarion County (West Central)--Salem (North), Keizer Cities & Hayesville PUMA, ORMarion County (West Central)--Salem City (South) & Four Corners PUMA, ORMarion County (Outside Salem & Keizer Cities)--Woodburn & Silverton Cities PUMA, ORPolk & Lincoln Counties PUMA, OR

Population & Diversity

Salem, OR is home to a population of 177k people, from which 92.4% are citizens. As of 2023, 11.8% of Salem, OR residents were born outside of the country (20.8k people).

In 2023, there were 8.34 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (113k people) in Salem, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 13.5k Other (Hispanic) and 11.3k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.4%
2023 Citizenship
92.9%
2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 92.4% of Salem, OR residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Salem, OR was 92.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Salem, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Salem, OR
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    113k ± 2.09k
  2. Other (Hispanic)
    13.5k ± 1.72k
  3. Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
    11.3k ± 1.78k
23.4%
Hispanic Population
41.3k people

In 2023, there were 8.34 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (113k people) in Salem, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 13.5k Other (Hispanic) and 11.3k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

23.4% of the people in Salem, OR are hispanic (41.3k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Salem, OR as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Oregon.
Most Common Origin
  1. Mexico
    141,836 ± 9,090 people
  2. Vietnam
    22,252 ± 3,653 people
  3. China
    21,575 ± 3,597 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Oregon was Mexico, the natal country of 141,836 Oregon residents, followed by Vietnam with 22,252 and China with 21,575.

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Foreign-Born Population

11.8%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
20.8k people
11.1%
2022 Foreign-Born Population
19.5k people

As of 2023, 11.8% of Salem, OR residents (20.8k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Salem, OR was 11.1%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Salem, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    2,629 ± 310
  2. Gulf War (2001-)
    1,826 ± 355
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    1,478 ± 361

Salem, OR has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.44 times greater than any other conflict.

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Economy

The economy of Salem, OR employs 81.6k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Salem, OR were Health Care & Social Assistance (13,594 people), Retail Trade (9,452 people), and Public Administration (8,215 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance ($72,384), Public Administration ($71,705), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($64,652).

Employment

Occupations

81.6k
2023 Value
± 2,454
1.76%
1 Year growth
± 4.21%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Salem, OR grew at a rate of 1.76%, from 80.2k employees to 81.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Salem, OR, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,229 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,719 people), and Management Occupations (7,265 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Salem, OR.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Oregon (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

81.6k
2023 Value
± 2,454
1.76%
1 Year growth
± 4.21%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Salem, OR grew at a rate of 1.76%, from 80.2k employees to 81.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Salem, OR, are Health Care & Social Assistance (13,594 people), Retail Trade (9,452 people), and Public Administration (8,215 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Salem, OR, though some of these residents may live in Salem, OR and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$49,261
Median earning men ± $2,273
$40,495
Median earning women ± $1,137

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($80,338), Public Administration ($74,027), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($60,085).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($68,261), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($49,685), and Construction ($49,250).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.
Y-Axis
2.87%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.97M people employed in Oregon. This represents a 2.87% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.1%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Oregon.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Oregon went to Kamala Harris with 55.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (41%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.5%).

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing the state of Oregon. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Oregon is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Salem, OR. Showing the available data for Oregon.
2024 Election Results
  1. Kamala Harris (55.3%)
    Democratic Party
  2. Donald J. Trump (41%)
    Republican Party
  3. Robert Kennedy (1.5%)
    Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Oregon went to Kamala Harris with 55.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (41%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.5%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Oregon for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Oregon

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.
Ron Wyden
Senator from Oregon3
Assumed office on February 5, 1996
Elected to the seat following the resignation of Bob Packwood.
Jeff Merkley
Senator from Oregon2
Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing Oregon.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Oregon over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Oregon

Oregon is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Oregon have changed over time starting in 2008.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Salem, OR awarded 1,040 degrees. The student population of Salem, OR in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,268 male students and 1,835 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Salem, OR are White (615 and 59.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (194 and 18.9%), Unknown (81 and 7.89%), and Two or More Races (64 and 6.23%).

The largest universities in Salem, OR by number of degrees awarded are Willamette University (594 and 57.1%), Corban University (329 and 31.6%), and College of Hair Design Careers (62 and 5.96%).

The most popular majors in Salem, OR are General Business Administration & Management (136 and 13.1%), Law (97 and 9.33%), and Kinesiology & Exercise Science (51 and 4.9%).

The median tuition cost in Salem, OR for private four year colleges is $42,044.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2023 in Salem, OR, the percentage of applicants admitted was 80.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 17.2%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 3,103 (40.9% men and 59.1% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 3,103 students enrolled in Salem, OR, 40.9% men and 59.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,864 records, of which 59.7% were women and 40.3% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. General Biological Sciences
    39 degrees awarded
  2. General Economics
    49 degrees awarded
  3. Kinesiology & Exercise Science
    46 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Salem, OR was General Biological Sciences with 39 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Salem, OR according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. Willamette University
    594 degrees awarded
  2. Corban University
    329 degrees awarded
  3. College of Hair Design Careers
    62 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Willamette University with 594 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 433 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Salem, OR, which is 0.713 times less than the 607 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 615 degrees mean that there were 3.17 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 194 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($42,044) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($694) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,047) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.
Measure

In 2023, 0.986% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.93% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

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Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.
Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2023 were Some college (850k), High School or Equivalent (811k), and Bachelors Degree (711k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Salem, OR was $382,400 in 2023, which is 1.26 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $349,500 to $382,400, a 9.41% increase. The homeownership rate in Salem, OR is 55.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65%.

People in Salem, OR have an average commute time of 22.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Salem, OR is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$382,400
Median Property Value 2023
±$6,504
$37,359
Median Property Taxes
±$1,386

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Salem, OR the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Salem, OR compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

55.7%
Homeownership
2023
67.2%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2023

In 2023, 55.7% of the housing units in Salem, OR were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 54.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Salem, OR compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity

The following map shows all of the places in Salem, OR colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$71,900
Median Household Income
± $1,977
67k
Number of Households
± 2,130

In 2023, the median household income of the 67k households in Salem, OR grew to $71,900 from the previous year's value of $67,540.

The following chart displays the households in Salem, OR distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Salem, OR is from Oregon.
0.461
2023 Wage GINI in Oregon
0.463
2022 Wage GINI in Oregon

In 2023, the income inequality in Oregon was 0.461 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.437% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Oregon was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Oregon in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Oregon across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023
  1. Drove Alone (68.4%)
  2. Worked At Home (14%)
  3. Carpooled (10.4%)

In 2023, 68.4% of workers in Salem, OR drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (14%) and those who carpooled to work (10.4%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

22.4 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Salem, OR have a shorter commute time (22.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.61% of the workforce in Salem, OR have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Salem, OR compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Salem, OR distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Salem, OR have 2 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

14.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Salem, OR (24.8k out of 169k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Salem, OR is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

92.6% of the population of Salem, OR has health coverage, with 45.8% on employee plans, 23.1% on Medicaid, 11.4% on Medicare, 11.4% on non-group plans, and 0.993% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Oregon see 1,064 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.188% increase from the previous year (1,062 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1177 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 148 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.3% under 18 years, 24% between 18 and 34 years, 35.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

7.43%
Uninsured
45.8%
Employer Coverage
23.1%
Medicaid
11.4%
Medicare
11.4%
Non-Group
0.993%
Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Salem, OR grew by 1.73% from 7.3% to 7.43%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Salem, OR changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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