Portland vs Salem
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Both cities are evenly matched
Both cities offer similar value for rent vs buy decisions.
Median Home Price
$493,150.76
Median Rent
$1,686.65/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4
Property Tax RateTIE
0.97%
Price Change (1Y)
-1.2%
Price Change (5Y)
-6.0%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceTIE
$363,323
Median Home PriceBETTER
$437,106.46
Median RentBETTER
$1,651.85/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
22.1
Property Tax RateTIE
0.97%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+0.2%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+1.1%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceTIE
$360,036
Key Differences
Home Prices
Portland's median home price of $493,150.76 is higher than Salem's $437,106.46 by 13%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Portland costs $1,686.65/mo compared to $1,651.85/mo in Salem—a difference of $34.8/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Break-even analysis varies based on market conditions in each city.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.