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Living in
Salem.
About
Life in Salem
Salem offers an interesting living situation if you want East Coast history and coastal access without committing to Boston prices, though it's getting pricier. The median home value sits around $542,800 with median rent at $1,800, so you're paying a premium, but it's genuinely less expensive than many Boston neighborhoods. The unemployment rate of 4.5% is solid, and with nearly 50% of residents holding college degrees, there's a reasonably educated community here.
Salem at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Foreign-Born
16.3%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.3% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Salem: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salem, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (37.1%), and 13.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.5%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MA
Rent, home values, and income in Salem
Rent and home values here are close to the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,114
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $603,696 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Salem
Unemployment in Salem is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Salem Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.5 min avg
How Salem residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salem, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 79% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Salem runs 79% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
69.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,276.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Salem Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Salem, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Salem, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salem has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.0"
Annual Snowfall
39.1"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 3.75" |
| Feb | 38°F | 20°F | 3.50" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 4.71" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 4.30" |
| May | 65°F | 45°F | 3.48" |
| Jun | 74°F | 54°F | 4.14" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.25" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 5.00" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 4.15" |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 4.70" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salem
Salem has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
North Shore Medical Center -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Northeast Hospital Corporation
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Beverly
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Melrose
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14 mi away · Winchester
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salem
Salem's student/teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 47.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Salem
Public · 4-year · 4,291 students · in-state tuition $12,708 · 62% graduate · median earnings $62,762 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,393 students · in-state tuition $5,448 · 30% graduate · median earnings $51,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,125 students · in-state tuition $42,650 · 75% graduate · median earnings $77,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Hult International Business School
14.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 618 students · in-state tuition $58,860 · 67% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 532 students · in-state tuition $14,778 · 41% graduate · median earnings $58,665 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 226 students · in-state tuition $42,520 · 65% graduate · median earnings $40,733 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salem
Salem has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Salem Maritime National Historical Park (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
2 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
15 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salem
Salem Public Library
370 Essex St., Salem
Cities Near Salem
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Salem?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Salem FAQ
Is Salem, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Salem's median rent is $1,836/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $85,153/year. Median home value is $542,800.
Is Salem, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Salem's violent crime rate was 69 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1276 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salem, Massachusetts?⌄
Salem has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salem, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Salem is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,836/month and median household income is $85,153/year. The median home value is $542,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salem, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Salem is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from