The typical owner-occupied home in Salem is worth about $416,900, 13% below the Oregon median of $477,600 and 25% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,007 a year in property taxes, about 0.96% of their home's value, higher than the Oregon rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $75,487 a year, so the median home costs 5.5 times the median income (5.8 times for Oregon). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Salem at a glance
| Salem | Oregon | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $416,900 | $477,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,007 | $3,876 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.96% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $75,487 | $83,011 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 56% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 65% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,057 | $2,157 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 22.5% | 22.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,400 | $1,525 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.5% | 31.3% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.9% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 178,865 | 4,254,293 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Salem
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Salem home of $416,900 with 20% down costs about $2,751 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,445, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $117,893 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 44% of the median Salem household income of $75,487; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $267,000.
The median rent here is $1,400 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,351 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $83,380 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $333,520 |
| Principal and interest | $2,244 |
| Property taxes (0.96% a year) | $334 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $174 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,751 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $14,592 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $409,349 |
| Principal and interest | $2,754 |
| Property taxes (0.96% a year) | $334 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $174 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $184 |
| Total per month | $3,445 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Salem
What is the median home value in Salem?
About $416,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Salem?
Homeowners pay a median $4,007 a year, which is about 0.96% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Salem?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,751 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $117,893 a year.
More about Salem
- Mortgage Refinance in Salem
- Debt Relief in Salem
- Home Equity Loans in Salem
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data