Real Estate Investing in Salem, Oregon (97301)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Marion County • Population: 56,274 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 97301 (Salem, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Salem, OR (97301)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $375,844
Avg Monthly Rent $1,449
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,113
% Renters 57.6%

Market Analysis: 97301 Salem

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Salem's 97301 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $376K pricing implies.

The investment case in 97301 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $376K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 97301 among OR's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 97301 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 97301 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $376K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Salem:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,449/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Salem, OR Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
51 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Salem, OR metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 97301

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$90,677/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $263,944 $1,150 3.1% +5.4% $263,944
2BR $314,945 $1,490 3.4% +6.2% $157,473
3BR $372,802 $2,060 4.0% +6.3% $124,267
4BR $422,068 $2,230 3.8% +5.8% $105,517
5BR $453,387 +5.6% $90,677

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$397K$337K$278K$218K$159K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,551$1,473$1,395$1,317$1,239$1,161Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97301 Compare?

Metric 97301 Salem Salem, OR Oregon
Home Value $375,844 $256,393 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.0% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,449 $1,648 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97301? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

58% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97301 (Salem, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 97301 (Salem, OR)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Marion County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Evolve Workforce & Multifamily Housing Services. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Dalke Property Management, Llc. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Salem, OR metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
1/2
51 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $375,844
Monthly Rent $1,449
Price-to-Rent 21.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97301

Population: 56,274

💰 Median Household Income
$53,113
This area
$53,113
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
57.6%
This area
57.6%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.2%
This area
18.2%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.0 years
This area
34.0 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.6%
Other/Mixed 30.8%
Hispanic/Latino 23.6%
Asian 2.8%
Black/African American 1.9%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.6%
This area
12.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.8%
This area
13.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 97301

B+ Avg School Grade
18 Schools
27.7:1 Avg Class Size
$22,282 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Richmond Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roberts High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
527 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Englewood Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Auburn Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
596 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Eyre Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Grant Community School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Hoover Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Parrish Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
674 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Swegle Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
505 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bush Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Houck Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
873 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jane Goodall Environmental Middle Charter School

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
94 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Waldo Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,035 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
B Good

North Salem High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,176 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
C+ Average

Oregon School for the Deaf

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
94 Students
👨‍🏫
4.5:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Howard Street Charter

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
186.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
C Below Average

Eagle Charter School

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
C Below Average

Willamette Career Academy

📚 11 – 12 High School Limited Data
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,529 Off-Campus Students
C
College of Hair Design Careers
66 students · 1.1 mi
C+
Phagans School of Beauty
38 students · 1.4 mi
C+
Willamette University
2,112 students · 1.6 mi
C
Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School
59 students · 1.7 mi
C
Institute of Technology
261 students · 2.3 mi
C
Chemeketa Community College
7,433 students · 2.4 mi
C
Corban University
866 students · 5.1 mi
C
Western Oregon University
3,857 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,529 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Salem, OR?

Salem, OR rentals go for roughly $1,449/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $376K acquisition costs.

Are renters plentiful in Salem, OR?

Salem, OR draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,449/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Which investment style suits Salem, OR?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Salem, OR best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $376K price point.

Is Salem, OR a good market for FHA house hackers?

Salem, OR offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,449/mo rent level.

Does Salem, OR make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Salem, OR ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $376K and rents of $1,449/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 97301 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97301 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 97301 ranks in Salem, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 97301 (Salem)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 97301 (Salem, OR).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.