Cottage Grove, MN vs Salem, VA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Cottage Grove
77.4
#246 nationally
Salem
73.2
#778 nationally
Cottage Grove leads in crime level (1.1 vs 7.2). Cottage Grove leads in median household income ($117,673 vs $68,402). Salem leads in walk score (27 vs 16).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cottage Grove, MN | Salem, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 77.4 (#246) | 73.2 (#778) |
| Population | 42,056 | 25,600 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $402,376 | $312,662 |
| Median Household Income | $117,673 | $68,402 |
| Average Commute | 25.3 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 16 | 27 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | 7.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+8.9 | R+19.3 |
C+
77.4 Score
Cottage Grove, MN
Small Minnesota city with local appeal
Median Home
$402,376
Population
42,056
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
16
Midwest
View Cottage Grove, MN →
C
73.2 Score
Salem, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$312,662
Population
25,600
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
27
Northeast
View Salem, VA →
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