Real Estate Investing in Salem, Oregon (97317)

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

Marion County • Population: 26,165 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97317 (Salem, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 (97317)?

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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 $462,374
Avg Monthly Rent $1,677
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,910
% Renters 28.5%

Market Analysis: 97317 Salem

ZIP 97317 in Salem, OR carries a sturdy set of headwinds. Home values near $462K and rents of $1,677/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 97317 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within OR, ZIP 97317 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Marion County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.

Stepping back, 26,165 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 97317 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,677/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 97317

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$135,197/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $356,943 $1,670 3.4% +4.8% $178,472
3BR $405,591 $2,310 4.1% +5.8% $135,197
4BR $624,383 $2,500 2.9% +6.4% $156,096
5BR $685,488 +5.5% $137,098

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$487K$416K$344K$273K$201K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,715$1,669$1,624$1,579$1,534$1,488Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97317 Compare?

Metric 97317 Salem Salem, OR Oregon
Home Value $462,374 $256,393 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,677 $1,648 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97317? Click to expand

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

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97317 (Salem, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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

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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
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
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 $462,374
Monthly Rent $1,677
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97317

Population: 26,165

💰 Median Household Income
$77,910
This area
$77,910
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.5%
This area
28.5%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.2%
This area
21.2%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.4%
Other/Mixed 25.6%
Hispanic/Latino 18.5%
Asian 2.4%
Black/African American 0.6%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
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 97317

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
21.1:1 Avg Class Size
$22,282 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Four Corners Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
A Very Good

Miller Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
344 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,282 Per Student
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 2,140 Off-Campus Students
C
Corban University
866 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Phagans School of Beauty
38 students · 4.4 mi
C
College of Hair Design Careers
66 students · 4.9 mi
C
Institute of Technology
261 students · 5.5 mi
C
Chemeketa Community College
7,433 students · 6.3 mi
C+
Willamette University
2,112 students · 6.5 mi
C
Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School
59 students · 7.0 mi
C
Mount Angel Seminary
116 students · 12.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,140 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Salem, OR rate as a rental market?

Salem, OR scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $462K and rents near $1,677/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Are landlord laws favorable in Salem, OR?

Rental owners in Salem, OR deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How tight is the rental market in Salem, OR?

Vacancy risk in Salem, OR is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Salem, OR?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Salem, OR reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What do landlords charge for rent in Salem, OR?

Rent in Salem, OR is around $1,677/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $462K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 97317 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97317 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.

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How 97317 ranks in Salem, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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