A bustling state capital with easy access to the rest of Oregon
Serving as Oregon's capital city, Salem is set in the pastoral Willamette Valley, a region known for its scenery, recreation and winemaking. There is plenty to do within city limits, but the biggest reason people move to Salem is the convenient access to other communities and attractions. "Salem is an hour to the beach and an hour to the mountains. It's an hour to Eugene and Portland. It's a hub to get to all the activities Oregon offers in the Willamette Valley," says Shannon Banke, a Realtor with Zenith Realty LLC and longtime area resident. "It's a really nice area, and it's not as busy as Portland. But they can commute there if they work in Portland." The city of 177,000 is located along Interstate 5, which runs north-south through the Willamette Valley and the entire West Coast.
The State Capitol is located downtown, and government jobs comprise nearly 25% of the workforce. The Capitol is open for tours, and the surrounding park offers a scenic spot for a walk or picnic. Other parks around the city range from historic homes to expansive natural areas, and the city's temperate climate makes it easy to enjoy outdoor recreation year-round. Salem's dining scene includes highly rated wineries and breweries and various cultural food options. The city has a thriving arts scene, with museums, galleries and the Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University. With lower-priced homes than Portland, Salem presents a convenient alternative to buyers looking in northwest Oregon.
The State Capitol is located downtown, and government jobs comprise 25% of the workforce.
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art features rotating art exhibits in Downtown Salem.
The Willamette Valley Vineyard is a highly rated winery located in Salem.
The Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge connects residents to miles of trails.
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A steady housing market in Oregon's capital
Homes east of the Willamette River include bungalows, Craftsmans, Tudor Revivals and ranch-style houses. Neighborhoods like Grant and South Central feature houses from the late 1800s or early 1900s. West Salem has newer developments, with ranch-style and new traditional homes. The median price in the city is $435,000, up just 1% over the past year. Homes typically sell in about 60 days, slower than the national average of 45 days. Banke says the market is more neutral right now; sellers are willing to come down from the asking price, and buyers can wait to find the right house instead of snatching up the first house they can afford. Recent data shows that nearly 36% of homes were sold at asking price, while 34% sold for below asking.
This Victorian-style home can be found nestled in the streets of Downtown Salem.
A quintessential Colonial Revival home in the Grant, Salem neighborhood.
You'll find large modern bungalow homes in West Salem.
Homes east of the Willamette River include bungalows, Craftsmans & Tudor Revivals.
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Wining and dining at local Salem businesses
Salem has several shopping destinations, each with something different to offer. Downtown has several local restaurants, including coffee shops, dive bars, fine dining and burger joints. The few stores downtown include boutiques and furniture stores. Lancaster Drive is a hub for big-box stores like Target, Walmart and Best Buy. It's also home to Willamette Town Center, a large indoor mall with multiple chain stores and a movie theater. The city also has a wide range of cultural dining options, including authentic Mexican and Vietnamese restaurants, many of which are on Lancaster Drive or nearby in the east Salem area. Kuebler Boulevard in South Salem has more chains, including a Costco. Keizer Station is north of town and a popular spot for shopping. "People love Keizer Station. It's the new place to be. It also has a hotel, so if you're coming to check out the area, that's a beautiful place to stay," says Banke. The outdoor shopping center has chains like REI, Michael's and Target. It also has restaurants like In-N-Out Burger, which Banke says constantly has a line of cars waiting.
Just outside of town, the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley are home to popular wineries. The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area has become world-renowned for its Pinot Noirs, thanks to cool Pacific breezes that give the region a climate similar to Burgundy in France. Wineries like Willamette Valley Vineyards and Bryn Mawr Vineyards offer scenic spots to enjoy a glass or bottle with friends. They have won numerous awards and high ratings from wine magazines.
The Cozy Taberna serves world class Spanish cuisine in Electric Alley.
Sip on bold Pinot Noir's at Willamette Valley Vineyards.
Archive Coffee & Bar slings expertly roasted espresso drinks by day and crafty cocktails by night.
Bo&Vine is a staple for juicy burgers in Downtown Salem.
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Plenty of outdoor recreation in this Pacific Northwest city
Salem has plenty of options for outdoor recreation, with 90 parks covering 2,335 acres. Notable sites include Bush's Pasture Park, the former farmstead of early settler Asahel Bush. The park was also an important site for the native Kalapuya people, who harvested camas, which still grows in the park's fields. The Bush family house is one of several historic buildings around the city now open for tours, while the family barn hosts the Salem Art Association's gallery. Minto-Brown Island Park is a 1,200-acre natural area along the Willamette River with 29 miles of walking and biking trails. The park also has a 30-acre dog park and a nature preserve home to several species of animals. Venturing east of the city will lead to Silver Falls State Park, widely considered the crown jewel of the state parks system. The main attraction here is the 177-foot South Falls, which is just one stop on the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile trek through dense forest and a rocky canyon. The park is about 24 miles east of town and has a campground with tent and RV sites. It's just a bit further of a drive east to spots like Santiam State Forest, Detroit Lake and Mt. Jefferson. Lincoln City is a popular coastal town about 58 miles west of Salem with public beach access and state recreation sites.
Bush’s Pasture Park Rose Garden pops with color as spring arrives in South Central.
The Bush family house is one of several historic buildings around the city open for tours.
Minto-Brown Island Park features a large dog park so pups can run in wide-open spaces.
The South Falls in Silver Falls State Park Near Silverton, Oregon.
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Exploring the heritage and history of the Willamette Valley
Several cultural sites and events around the city keep Salem residents busy year-round. In addition to the Bush family house, Deepwood Museum is a historic Queen Anne house with Victorian gardens open for tours. The Willamette Heritage Center details the region's history through historic artifacts and buildings, including three of the oldest houses in the Pacific Northwest. The center also hosts holiday events around Halloween and Christmas. The Oregon State Fair takes place in Salem every August and September, bringing carnival rides, live music, rodeos and monster trucks. When the fair isn't in town, the fairgrounds host events like First Taste Oregon, featuring local wineries and breweries, and a holiday village.
Bush's Pasture Park hosts the Salem Art Fair & Festival in September.
Volunteers create textiles out of wool at the Sheep to Shawl Festival in Salem.
Visitors enjoy the fun rides at the Oregon State Fair in Salem.
Cherry blossoms bloom each spring at Oregon State Capital State Park in Downtown Salem.
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Preparing for the future at Salem-Keizer schools
The Salem-Keizer School District gets a B-minus rating on Niche. The district serves approximately 39,000 students across 65 schools and is the second-largest school district in Oregon. Students can take Spanish Dual Language Immersion courses starting in middle school. The district also offers International Baccalaureate programs for middle and high school students. Willamette University is located in downtown Salem and is the oldest university in the western United States, founded in 1842. It has a total enrollment of about 2,500 students and is known for computer science, business and environmental science programs. It's also home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art and a law school. Chemeketa Community College offers GEDs, industry certifications and associate degrees at its location in Hayesville.
Willamette University is the oldest university in the western United States.
North Salem High School is one of the top schools in the area.
Sprague High School offers AP and Dual Credit courses.
South Salem High offers dual credit courses through Chemeketa Community College.
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Easy access to all of the Willamette Valley
Interstate 5 passes through Salem, making it convenient for commuting through the Willamette Valley. The highway leads about 46 miles north to Portland. "It's a very common commute to make. You just turn on the radio and listen to the news. 101.7 is a news channel, and every seven minutes, they give you a traffic update," says Banke. I-5 also leads south to Eugene and California. The Salem-Willamette Valley Airport has limited commercial flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, but the closest major airport is in Portland. To get around the city, the Cherriots bus system has routes that connect nearly every corner of Salem. There are also several bike lanes throughout the city on major roads and smaller streets. Two one-way bridges are the only ways to cross the Willamette River in town, and they often get backed up during rush hour.
Officials create Community Violence Reduction Initiative
According to the Salem Police Department’s 15-year crime trend report, the city’s overall crime rate is less than the national rate. From 2022 to 2023, the city’s rates of violent crime and property crime both decreased. However, incidents of violent crime increased by 35% between 2009 and 2023. While Salem has higher crime rates than nearby cities like Keizer and Dallas, it has lower rates than other cities like Portland and Ontario. City officials and community leaders have organized peace walks in at-risk neighborhoods to increase support and visibility.
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Elizabeth James
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On average, homes in Salem, OR sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Salem, OR over the last 12 months is $439,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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