Foster City, CA vs Salem, MA
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.
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Foster City leads in median household income ($191,267 vs $79,196). Foster City leads in crime level (1.9 vs 4.2). Salem leads in cost of living index (135 vs 276).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Foster City, CA | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.9 (#1730) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 32,180 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,863,228 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $191,267 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 32.4 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 50 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 276 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+20.3 |
D
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, CA →
D+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →