Rents are 13% below what Salem's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,611 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Salem usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in September, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Salem is 0.1% below its high of $1,613 in July 2026, at $1,611 as of September 2026.
Rent in Salem changed +0.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 Oregon cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Salem rose 36.6% while median household income rose 35% ($55,920 to $75,487). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Salem is 34.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($75,487) is $1,887 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,620); a 3-bedroom is $2,252.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Salem, 97304 ($1,884/mo), costs 26% more than the cheapest, 97301 ($1,496/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Salem. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Salem, OR is majority owner-occupied, 31.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Salem, OR has changed in 5 years
Rent in Salem, OR has increased 23.6% since 2021, going from about $1,303 per month to roughly $1,611 today. Household income in the area moved from $62,185 to $75,487 across the same window, up 21.4% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 174,193 to 178,865 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Salem, OR look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Salem
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At $1,611/mo, how Salem rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Salem rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Salem. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Salem
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Salem is $1,611/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,230/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,620/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,294/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,252/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($75,487/yr), Salem ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Salem rent compare to other cities in Oregon?
At $1,611/mo, rent takes ~26% of Salem's median household income ($75,487/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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