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Living in
Salem.
About
Life in Salem
If you're considering Salem, you're looking at a mid-sized city that functions as a practical hub rather than a destination in itself—think of it as Roanoke's quieter, more municipal-focused neighbor. The job market is solid with unemployment at 3.3%, and housing is reasonably priced around $258,600 median with rents near $1,133 per month, making it more affordable than many mid-Atlantic cities. Roanoke College anchors some cultural and educational activity, and the minor league baseball team adds a bit of local character, though you won't find a thriving downtown restaurant scene with just 76 options across the city.
Salem at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Foreign-Born
4.5%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Salem: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salem, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (14.1%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
43.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 28% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Salem
In Salem, rent runs 28% below the VA average, and home values are 33% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,316
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $308,856 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Salem
Unemployment in Salem is close to the VA 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
Commute19 min avg
How Salem residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salem, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
Regional airport · few flights417k passengers boarded in 2025
- 120 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M 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 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Salem runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
153.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,187.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Salem Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
18.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Salem County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Salem, the most common type is high wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | High Wind | $31,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | $1.2M |
| 2023 | 5 | High Wind | $500 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Storm | $2,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Winter Storm | $10,500 |
| 2020 | 8 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Storm | $451,250 |
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
Salem city, county-wide
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Salem is typically good.
Median AQI
31
Salem city-wide
Climate86°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salem has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.9"
Annual Snowfall
14.8"
Hot Days/Year
30
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 51°F | 31°F | 2.89" |
| Mar | 59°F | 38°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 4.31" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.66" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.28" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 3.37" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.06" |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 2.96" |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 50°F | 32°F | 3.08" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salem
Salem has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Salem VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Lewisgale Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Lewisgale Medical Center · 1900 Electric Road
- Hospital campus: LewisGale Medical Center · 1902 Braeburn Dr, Salem
- Emergency department: Cave Spring ER · 2706 Ogden Rd, Cave Spring
- Emergency department: LewisGale Blue Hills Emergency Room · 1423 W Ruritan Rd, Roanoke
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Carilion Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Roanoke
Catawba Hospital
Psychiatric · 7.8 mi away · Catawba
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salem
Salem's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Salem
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,767 students · in-state tuition $39,208 · 68% graduate · median earnings $64,329 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 630 students · in-state tuition $11,973 · 23% graduate · median earnings $31,618 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 665 students · in-state tuition $44,640 · 68% graduate · median earnings $48,102 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke
2.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 315 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (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: Booker T Washington National Monument, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salem
Salem has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Booker T Washington National Monument (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
54 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
66 mi awayAppomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
69 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
81 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salem
Salem Public Library
28 E. Main 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, Virginia affordable?⌄
Salem's median rent is $1,133/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,725/year. Median home value is $258,600.
Is Salem, Virginia safe?⌄
Salem's violent crime rate was 153 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 1187 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salem, Virginia?⌄
Salem has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salem, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Salem is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,133/month and median household income is $66,725/year. The median home value is $258,600. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salem, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Salem is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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