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Living in
Salisbury.
About
Life in Salisbury
Salisbury offers an affordable alternative to Charlotte living while remaining close enough for commuting—most people get to work in under 21 minutes. The job market is reasonably stable with a 4.6% unemployment rate, largely thanks to Food Lion's presence and solid healthcare employment through Novant Health and the VA Medical Center. Housing is genuinely affordable by regional standards, with median home prices around $243,000 and rent averaging $1,071, which stretches further here than in nearby Charlotte.
Salisbury at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
+4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Salisbury: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salisbury, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.5%), and 8.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.8%
of households
Married Couples
34.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
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 13% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Salisbury
In Salisbury, rent runs 13% below the NC average, and home values are 16% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,082
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $280,462 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above NC average
Unemployment in Salisbury and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Salisbury is 0.8 percentage points higher than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Salisbury Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area
Commute21.8 min avg
How Salisbury residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salisbury, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
Regional airport · few flights196k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M 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 78% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Salisbury runs 78% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
585.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,558.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Salisbury Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rowan County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rowan County, which includes Salisbury, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $301,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $152,000 |
| 2023 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $320,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $90,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $385,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $66,500 |
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
Rowan County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rowan County, which includes Salisbury, is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
96
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Rowan County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salisbury has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.7"
Annual Snowfall
2.4"
Hot Days/Year
37
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
71
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 29°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 54°F | 32°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 62°F | 38°F | 4.09" |
| Apr | 72°F | 48°F | 3.69" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 3.43" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.28" |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 4.59" |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 3.74" |
| Sep | 81°F | 61°F | 3.83" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 2.97" |
| Nov | 61°F | 37°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 53°F | 32°F | 3.50" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salisbury
Salisbury has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
W.g. (bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center (salsbury)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lexington Memorial Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Lexington
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.
Education17.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salisbury
Salisbury's student/teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Salisbury
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,235 students · in-state tuition $35,500 · 57% graduate · median earnings $52,260 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 924 students · in-state tuition $18,296 · 28% graduate · median earnings $38,502 (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: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salisbury
Salisbury has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
49 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
62 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
62 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salisbury
Rowan Public Library
201 W Fisher St, Salisbury
Cities Near Salisbury
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Salisbury?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Salisbury FAQ
Is Salisbury, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Salisbury's median rent is $1,071/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,716/year. Median home value is $242,500.
Is Salisbury, North Carolina safe?⌄
Salisbury's violent crime rate was 585 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3558 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salisbury, North Carolina?⌄
Salisbury has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salisbury, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Salisbury is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,071/month and median household income is $53,716/year. The median home value is $242,500. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salisbury, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Salisbury is 22 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