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Living in
Salem.
About
Life in Salem
Salem is a community of 11,805 people in Ohio. The median household income is $47,073, median rent runs about $763 per month, and median home values are around $119,400. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Salem at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.3%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
85.2%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Salem: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salem, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (58.1%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.7%
of residents
65 and Older
22.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.4%
of households
Married Couples
35.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 26% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Salem
In Salem, rent runs 26% below the OH average, and home values are 44% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,343
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $189,233 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Salem
Unemployment in Columbiana County, which includes Salem, is 0.7 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Salem: Columbiana County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Columbiana County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Salem Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.6 min avg
How Salem residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salem, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Youngstown Warren Regional Airport (YNG)
Regional airport · few flights18k passengers boarded in 2025
- 43 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Salem runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
103.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,185.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Salem Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Columbiana County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Columbiana County, which includes Salem, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2023 | 8 | Winter Weather | $823,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $88,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $283,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Columbiana County, county-wide
Air Quality12 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Columbiana County, which includes Salem, is typically good.
Median AQI
12
Columbiana County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salem has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
27.9"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
150
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 17°F | 3.11" |
| Feb | 38°F | 17°F | 2.31" |
| Mar | 47°F | 25°F | 3.13" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 3.76" |
| May | 71°F | 45°F | 3.76" |
| Jun | 79°F | 54°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 83°F | 59°F | 4.64" |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 3.49" |
| Sep | 75°F | 50°F | 3.67" |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 3.30" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.61" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.93" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salem
Salem has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Salem Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Hmhp St Elizabeth Boardman Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Boardman
Surgical Hospital at Southwoods
Acute Care Hospitals · 12.8 mi away · Youngstown
Alliance Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Alliance
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.
Education19.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salem
Salem's student/teacher ratio is 19.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Salem (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,995 students · in-state tuition $37,700 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,519 (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: First Ladies National Historic Site, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salem
Salem has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being First Ladies National Historic Site (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
First Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayCuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
45 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayFriendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayFort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salem
Salem Public Library
821 E. State 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, Ohio affordable?⌄
Salem's median rent is $763/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,073/year. Median home value is $119,400.
Is Salem, Ohio safe?⌄
Salem's violent crime rate was 103 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 1186 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salem, Ohio?⌄
Columbiana County, which includes Salem, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salem, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Salem is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $763/month and median household income is $47,073/year. The median home value is $119,400. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salem, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Salem 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