© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Salem Lakes.
About
Life in Salem Lakes
This is a quiet, family-oriented community about 30 minutes north of the Illinois border in Kenosha County, and it's genuinely affordable compared to what you'd pay in nearby Milwaukee or Chicago. The median home value sits around $316,100 with a median household income of $94,554, which means housing costs are reasonable without feeling like a bargain-basement sacrifice—you're getting solid suburban stability without the urban price tag. The job market is stable with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, though many residents commute 30+ minutes to Milwaukee or Chicago for work, so you should factor in those drive times if your job isn't local.
Salem Lakes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Foreign-Born
3.0%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.0% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Salem Lakes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Salem Lakes, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (21.4%), and 2.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.7%
of households
Married Couples
52.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 9% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Salem Lakes
In Salem Lakes, rent runs 9% above the WI average, and home values are 19% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,779
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Salem Lakes
Unemployment in Kenosha County, which includes Salem Lakes, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Salem Lakes: Kenosha County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kenosha County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Salem Lakes Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.6 min avg
How Salem Lakes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Salem Lakes, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 39 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office, which covers Salem Lakes, runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
888
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Kenosha County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kenosha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kenosha County, which includes Salem Lakes, the most common type is winter weather, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | Winter Weather | $62,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
| 2020 | 17 | Winter Weather | $3.6M |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | $72,500 |
| 2018 | 30 | Winter Weather | $44,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kenosha County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kenosha County, which includes Salem Lakes, is typically good — 240 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
240
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Kenosha County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Salem Lakes has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.5"
Annual Snowfall
43.4"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 13°F | 1.73" |
| Feb | 33°F | 16°F | 2.16" |
| Mar | 44°F | 25°F | 2.41" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 4.28" |
| May | 68°F | 46°F | 4.38" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.26" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.49" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.56" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.62" |
| Oct | 61°F | 40°F | 3.05" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 2.56" |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 2.03" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Salem Lakes
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Salem Lakes's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Aurora Medical Center Kenosha
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Kenosha
Aurora Memorial Hospital Burlington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Burlington
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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Salem Lakes
Salem Lakes's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 64 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Salem Lakes
Salem Lakes has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (64 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
64 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Salem Lakes
Community Library
24615 89th St., Salem
Cities Near Salem Lakes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Salem Lakes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Salem Lakes FAQ
Is Salem Lakes, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Salem Lakes's median rent is $1,184/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $94,819/year. Median home value is $316,100.
Is Salem Lakes, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Salem Lakes is policed by the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 182 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 888 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin?⌄
Kenosha County, which includes Salem Lakes, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Salem Lakes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,184/month and median household income is $94,819/year. The median home value is $316,100. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Salem Lakes is 32 minutes, which is longer 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