Willamette University

Salem, OR

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Willamette University - Salem, OR

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The school that laid the groundwork for higher education on the West Coast

Private Liberal Arts Historic Bearcats Small Urban

Positioned right next door to the Oregon State Capitol in Downtown Salem, Willamette University is a legendary school that helped establish the West Coast’s proud tradition of academic excellence. Serving the people of Oregon since 1842, this historic institution is the oldest university in the western United States. A small population of fewer than 3,000 students reaps the benefits of a first-rate liberal arts education, with noteworthy programs dedicated to law, management, and education. Thanks to the close proximity to the state capitol building, students are also able to see the inner workings of Oregon’s government first-hand.

The area surrounding Willamette University is filled with great ways to spend your off-time. Downtown Salem sits just to the west, offering a wide range of terrific restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, specialty shops, theaters, and music venues. Riverfront City Park provides excellent scenic views of the Willamette River, just a short walk from the university. To the east, State Street is lined with popular hangouts, including an eclectic array of dining options perfect for an off-campus lunch. The nearby neighborhoods contain a diverse selection of apartments, houses, and condos easily within walking distance.

Rent Trends

As of April 2025, the average apartment rent in Salem, OR is $1,222 for a studio, $1,192 for one bedroom, $1,388 for two bedrooms, and $1,796 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Salem has increased by 1.1% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 430 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,222/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 653 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,192/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 901 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,388/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,165 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,796/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

60

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

35

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

72

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Schools

Morningside Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

324 Students

7
out of 10

Myers Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

344 Students

6
out of 10

Brush College Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

307 Students

6
out of 10

Grant Community School

Public

Grades K-5

424 Students

5
out of 10

Schirle Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

304 Students

5
out of 10

Judson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

810 Students

5
out of 10

Leslie Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

743 Students

4
out of 10

Parrish Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

670 Students

3
out of 10

Straub Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

561 Students

3
out of 10

Walker Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

556 Students

3
out of 10

Sprague High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,779 Students

5
out of 10

West Salem High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,733 Students

5
out of 10

South Salem High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,256 Students

4
out of 10

North Salem High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,239 Students

3
out of 10

Mckay High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,311 Students

2
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Bush's Pasture Park
  • Straub Environmental Learning Center
  • A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village
  • Eola Bend Park
  • Minto Island Park

Top Apartments Near Willamette University

Houses Near Willamette University

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.