The median home price in Salem is $380,000, near the national median of $420,000. With a median household income of $60,000, the price-to-income ratio is 6.3x — meaning buyers typically spend 6.3 years of gross income on the purchase price.
Property taxes in Salem run 0.94% of assessed value. On the median home, that is $3,572 per year, or $298 per month added to your mortgage payment. This is close to the national average of 1.1%.
Oregon has a state income tax. Factor your take-home pay into how much mortgage you can comfortably carry each month.
The cost of living index in Salem is 100 (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses beyond housing are close to the national average.