Considering Salem

179,944

Population

Sunny Days: 154

95100 Affordability

80100 Schools

80100 Diversity

80100 Safety

See all the facts!

LookyLOO Review of Salem

Wine Life in Willamette

Life in the capital is a bit slower than life in the city (Portland) but Salem residents are just fine with that. Trading the urban metro for some peace is a deal they’d take any day. If a life with beautiful outdoor opportunities and wine tastings galore is appealing then put Salem on your shortlist.

If peaceful glasses of wine and bike rides inside and outside the city don't sound like you, Salem’s probably not an ideal fit. It’s more or less a large small town, where everything’s closed by 10 and the places that are open before then tend to be quiet. Young, non-white, and liberal people in particular tend to not like it in Salem except in pockets near the university, and you might be shocked by the number of confederate flags you see in the capital of a state with Oregon’s general reputation. Portland’s only an hour away for those looking for an escape, but it would make more sense to live closer if you're looking for that vibe.

Lifestyle

Living near the Willamette Valley and the Willamette River drives the lifestyle of Salem. Kayaking, hiking, and camping spots are bountiful near the city, and trips to the vineyards are popular for residents and tourists alike in the summer months when rain is less frequent. Native Salem-ites are described as "small-town friendly" and conservative, tending to live more slow-paced lives than their Portland neighbors.

If you're interested in seeing what's happening in Salem check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Salem and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well

Worklife

Unless you’re working for the state, jobs are hard to come by in Salem. Outside of politics, education jobs from the public school system and Willamette University are the only other major hiring block Salem itself really has to offer. If you're moving here without a job then best to be a WFH'er.

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Escape

If you find the stress-inducing pace of Portland (or Seattle or SF or LA) exhausting, and having a locally grown glass of wine on a quiet Friday evening is appealing, put Salem on your shortlist. Many of the people who move to Salem are doing so to escape something: a more expensive or chaotic city, a population they think is too liberal, or a population they think is too conservative. Whatever your reason for trying to escape where you presently live know that for some Salem has served as an excellent alternative.

Review of Salem from Locals

fiestapotatoess
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

Salem to me feels like a mid size city with a smaller town feel. It’s kind of sleepy and quiet, but I appreciate that part honestly. If I were looking for a more vibrant “city” type scene I’d probably recommend Portland or Eugene.

I think the food scene is decent for a city this size. Some great local spots and all the food truck pods were something new to me coming from the Midwest.

I’d say people generally keep to themselves. With that said, I have great neighbors and people are kind. We will grab each others deliveries when someone is out of town, sometimes they will offer fresh produce out of their garden, that sort of thing. YMMV

It may snow once or twice a winter and it will basically shut down the city. There are essentially no resources to deal with it. I don’t even own a shovel anymore.

As for the rain, yes. It’s gonna rain. If I remember correctly, the first January I lived out here it rained every single day of the month. It’s just very drizzly and gray during the winter months… but at least most things stay green. It’s not like the wasteland vibes you get elsewhere in the country where all the foliage dies off.

IMO, the best part about Salem is its location and proximity to outdoor activities. If I wasn’t out doing something outside most weekends I’d probably just save all the extra money it costs to live here and move back home. It’s a fantastic base camp. The mountains, coast, desert, the gorge, etc are all easy day trips for amazing adventures. The surrounding area is stunningly beautiful as well, filled with wineries and rolling hills. Even a walk in the neighborhood or a park feels like something out of a storybook sometimes. It’s gorgeous here nearly everywhere you look.

For more reviews of what living in Salem is like from locals check out: The Reviews