The 10 Worst Salem Suburbs

Source: Public domain

$62,232 median income · $477,422 median home price

Located in Marion County, Oregon

Median income -25% vs OR

$62,232

OR $83k

Median home value -4% vs OR

$477,422

OR $499k

Unemployment +183% vs OR

15.3%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +18% vs OR

14.0%

OR 11.9%

We’ll get the ball rolling with Mount Angel, the absolute worst place to live around Salem according to the data.

And in the world of worst rankings, Mount Angel beat the competition pretty handily thanks to scoring in the bottom 15% in three major categories. Income is the 2nd worst in the Salem area, and to make matters worse, the city ranks 14th worst when it comes to home values.

But hey, at least it’s cheap to live there. But there’s a reason for that… it’s Mount Angel.

You won’t feel bad about not having a great income for the area. There aren’t a bunch of places to spend your money anyway.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$63,176 median income · $391,198 median home price

Located in Linn County, Oregon

Median income -24% vs OR

$63,176

OR $83k

Median home value -22% vs OR

$391,198

OR $499k

Unemployment +7% vs OR

5.8%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +50% vs OR

17.8%

OR 11.9%

Welcome to Lebanon. Home to KMart, Big Lots, and a lot of gas stations.

This city is 27.7 miles to Salem. Income levels here are the 3rd lowest in the metro area, where families bring in about $63,176 a year, which only goes so far even on a shoestring budget.

But on the bright side, there are a lot of fast food joints in the area.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$67,347 median income · $425,248 median home price

Located in Marion County, Oregon

Median income -19% vs OR

$67,347

OR $83k

Median home value -15% vs OR

$425,248

OR $499k

Unemployment -4% vs OR

5.2%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +37% vs OR

16.3%

OR 11.9%

Back up the highway we go for the third worst Salem suburb you can live in. You might have expected to see Woodburn on here. While the cost of living is low, your entertainment and work options are limited. And that’s an understatement.

In terms of numbers, it’s in the worst 15% for insurance, and the adult high school dropout rate is poor compared to other Salem suburbs.

But at least there are lovely parks to bring the kids during the day.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

If you live in Willamina, most likely you struggle to make ends meet every month. It ranks as the lowest Salem suburb for median household incomes.

Not only that, but this is the 15th worst unemployed suburb you can live in if you choose to live near Salem. Remember, we looked at 30 cities for this study.

Willamina is about 24.9 miles to downtown.

Data

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | CC BY-SA 3.0

$70,785 median income · $402,546 median home price

Located in Yamhill County, Oregon

Median income -15% vs OR

$70,785

OR $83k

Median home value -19% vs OR

$402,546

OR $499k

Unemployment +30% vs OR

7.0%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +1% vs OR

12.0%

OR 11.9%

Sheridan has the distinction of being a Salem suburb. Which means that’s about all it has going for it.

All snarkiness aside, Sheridan has the 3rd lowest home values in the metro Salem area, where the median price is $402,546. The median income is $124,867.

Sheridan has an unemployment rate of 7.0% which ranks 10th worst.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Gervais has 2,581 residents that probably know it’s a pretty crummy place to live when you look at the data. (Or, if you’ve ever been there, you don’t need to look at the data.)

Incomes are towards the bottom, and the poverty rate sits at 11.2%.

Data

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | CC BY 3.0

$78,114 median income · $435,935 median home price

Located in Linn County, Oregon

Median income -6% vs OR

$78,114

OR $83k

Median home value -13% vs OR

$435,935

OR $499k

Unemployment +7% vs OR

5.8%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +13% vs OR

13.5%

OR 11.9%

Ah, Albany. You rank as the 7th worst place to live around Salem.

It’s the place with the 14th most out of work residents in the Salem metro area (5.8%).

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | CC BY 3.0

$73,736 median income · $484,842 median home price

Located in Yamhill County, Oregon

Median income -11% vs OR

$73,736

OR $83k

Median home value -3% vs OR

$484,842

OR $499k

Unemployment +2% vs OR

5.5%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +34% vs OR

16.0%

OR 11.9%

McMinnville is a city about 21.5 miles from Salem, but Salem probably wishes it was further away. It ranks as the 8th worst burb.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a worse place to live. McMinnville has the 10th most uninsured people, 9th worst incomes, and has the 16th highest unemployment rate (5.5%) in the entire Salem metro area.

Homes only cost $484,842 for a reason. That’s cheap for Salem standards.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

If you absolutely have to live near Salem, then Amity might be a place for you to consider as it’s only the 9th worst Salem suburb.

About 3.8% of residents are out of work.

Data

Source: Wikipedia User Tedder | CC BY 3.0

$71,549 median income · $474,062 median home price

Located in Polk County, Oregon

Median income -14% vs OR

$71,549

OR $83k

Median home value -5% vs OR

$474,062

OR $499k

Unemployment +37% vs OR

7.4%

OR 5.4%

Poverty rate +30% vs OR

15.5%

OR 11.9%

Rounding out the ten worst Salem suburbs to call home is Dallas.

Located 14.2 miles outside the city, Dallas is a real pit when you look at the data. Its residents have the 6th highest unemployment rate (7.4%), and poverty is far above the area average.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers