Salem, OR Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Salem, OR Crime

Is Salem, OR safe to live in?

Salem earns an overall crime grade of B- and a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) when neighborhood-level data is aggregated across all 23 analyzed areas. Remarkably, 91.3% of Salem's neighborhoods hold a Grade A, and the remaining 8.7% hold a Grade B — meaning 100% of analyzed neighborhoods fall into the safe (A or B) range. Top-rated neighborhoods like Sunnyslope (A+) and South Gateway (A+) serve populations of roughly 7,500 and 17,500 residents respectively, both with median household incomes above $86,000, which correlates strongly with low crime activity. Even the areas with comparatively higher crime — Highland (B) and Grant (B+) — still rank well above average on a national scale. For context, Salem's 6.2% unemployment rate and 15.3% poverty rate are factors that researchers consistently link to localized crime variation, yet these figures have not pushed any Salem neighborhood below a B grade.

What is the crime rate in Salem, OR?

Across 23 neighborhoods analyzed, Salem achieves a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) with an overall crime grade of B-. The grade distribution tells a clear story: 21 out of 23 neighborhoods (91.3%) earned an A grade, while the remaining 2 neighborhoods (8.7%) earned a B grade. No neighborhood in Salem received a C, D, or F. The areas with the most notable crime activity relative to the rest of the city are Highland (Grade B) and Grant (Grade B+), along with Northeast Salem, North Lancaster, and East Lancaster — all holding an A-. By comparison, the safest corridor — including West Salem (A) with over 21,000 residents, Keizer (A) with nearly 33,000 residents, and Faye Wright (A) — demonstrates that even densely populated parts of Salem maintain excellent safety profiles. Salem's population density of 1,359 residents per square mile is relatively moderate, which helps limit the crime concentration seen in more densely packed urban centers.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Salem, OR?

Salem's safest neighborhoods are led by Sunnyslope and South Gateway, both earning the top grade of A+. Sunnyslope has a population of approximately 7,500 and a median household income of $87,794, while South Gateway — home to about 17,500 residents — reports a median income of $86,706. Rounding out the top tier are Southwest (Grade A, median income $95,416) — the highest-income neighborhood in the dataset — McNary Estates (Grade A, median income $83,250), and West Salem (Grade A, median income $87,905), which is one of the largest neighborhoods with over 21,000 residents. Other standout safe neighborhoods include Minto-Brown Island Park (A), Faye Wright (A), Morningside (A), Keizer (A) — Salem's most populous analyzed neighborhood at nearly 33,000 residents — and Southeast Mill Creek (A). Notably, Southeast Mill Creek achieves its Grade A with a median income of $51,025, demonstrating that safety in Salem is not exclusively tied to higher-income areas.

Which neighborhoods in Salem have higher crime?

Within Salem's broadly safe landscape, Highland stands out with a Grade B — the lowest grade recorded across all 23 analyzed neighborhoods. Grant follows closely at Grade B+. Three additional neighborhoods — Northeast Salem, North Lancaster, and East Lancaster — each hold an A-, placing them just below the top tier but still firmly in the safe category. It is important to emphasize that a Grade B in Salem's context does not indicate a dangerous neighborhood by broader standards; rather, it signals slightly elevated crime activity compared to Salem's exceptionally low city-wide baseline. No neighborhood in Salem received a C, D, or F grade. Residents and prospective movers should weigh these grades alongside other factors such as proximity to amenities, median home values (city-wide median: $265,202), and median rent ($1,034/month) when evaluating these areas.

Is Salem, OR a good place to live in 2026?

Salem presents a strong case for livability in 2026. With a population of 263,571 and a median household income of $58,726, the city balances affordability with quality of life. The median home value of $265,202 and median rent of $1,034 remain accessible compared to many West Coast cities. On the safety front, 100% of Salem's 23 analyzed neighborhoods earn a Grade A or B, with 91.3% achieving a Grade A — a statistic that few cities of comparable size can match. Families drawn to low-crime environments will find strong options in neighborhoods like West Salem, Keizer, and Faye Wright, all rated Grade A with populations large enough to support robust community infrastructure. The city's 6.2% unemployment rate and 15.3% poverty rate indicate areas of economic challenge, but these have not translated into widespread crime across neighborhoods. For those prioritizing safety alongside affordability, Salem's data-backed profile makes it one of Oregon's more compelling mid-sized cities to call home.