Salem, VA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Salem, Virginia Summary

Life in Salem research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Salem over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Salem:

  • The population in Salem is 25,477.

  • The median home value in Salem is $296,815.

  • The median income in Salem is $66,716.

  • The cost of living in Salem is 100 which is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Salem is $1,046.

  • The unemployment rate in Salem is 3.4%.

  • The poverty rate in Salem is 10.9%.

  • The average high in Salem is 67.2° and the average low is 45.3°.

Salem SnackAbility

7
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
8
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9

Salem, VA Crime Report

Crime in Salem summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Salem. Key points include:

  • There were 499 total crimes in Salem in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Salem is 1,948.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Salem is 85.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Salem is 1,862.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Salem is -8.04% below the national average.

499
Total Crimes
-8.04%
Below National Average

Crime In Salem Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Salem
/ 100k People
Virginia
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 499 1,948.8 1,787.6 2,119.2
Violent Crime 22 85.9 217.9 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 4.8 5.0
Robbery 5 19.5 33.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 12 46.9 152.2 256.0
Property Crime 477 1,862.8 1,569.7 1,760.0
Burglary 66 257.8 108.7 229.0
Larceny 379 1,480.1 1,315.9 1,272.0
Car Theft 32 125.0 145.1 259.0

Salem, VA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Salem summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Salem. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Virginia. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Salem is 100 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Salem is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Salem is $296,815.

  • The median income in Salem is $66,716.

100
Salem's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Salem Comparison Table

Living Expense Salem Virginia National Average
Overall 100 110 100
Services 96 101 100
Groceries 95 99 100
Health 88 98 100
Housing 106 130 100
Transportation 99 94 100
Utilities 117 104 100

Salem, VA Weather

  • The average high in Salem is 67.2° and the average low is 45.3°.

  • There are 77.6 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 41.1 inches of precipitation each year with 15.6 inches of snow.

StatSalem
Average Annual High67.2
Average Annual Low45.3
Annual Precipitation Days77.6
Average Annual Precipitation41.1
Average Annual Snowfall15.6
67.2°
Average High
77.6
Days of Rain

Salem, VA Photos

Salem Va Downtown
Source: Wikipedia User Mojo Hand | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Salem in Virginia

Locations Around Salem

Map Of Salem, VA

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Salem Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Salem

The current population in Salem is 25,477. The population has increased 3.4% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 25,477 0.4%
2022 25,372 0.1%
2021 25,335 0.2%
2020 25,290 -0.1%
2019 25,317 -0.8%
2018 25,519 -0.0%
2017 25,521 0.9%
2016 25,290 0.5%
2015 25,165 0.2%
2014 25,120 0.7%
2013 24,950 0.6%
2012 24,792 0.2%
2011 24,733 0.4%
2010 24,641 -

Race / Ethnicity in Salem

White
82.4% (20,986)
African American
7.7% (1,957)
American Indian
0.2% (39)
Asian
1.9% (495)
Hawaiian
0.1% (24)
Other
0.9% (228)
Two Or More
2.4% (609)
Hispanic
4.5% (1,139)

Salem is:

  • 82.4% White with 20,986 White residents.

  • 7.7% African American with 1,957 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 39 American Indian residents.

  • 1.9% Asian with 495 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 24 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.9% Other with 228 Other residents.

  • 2.4% Two Or More with 609 Two Or More residents.

  • 4.5% Hispanic with 1,139 Hispanic residents.

Race Salem VA USA
White 82.4% 59.0% 58.2%
African American 7.7% 18.4% 12.0%
American Indian 0.2% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 1.9% 6.8% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.9% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 2.4% 4.3% 3.9%
Hispanic 4.5% 10.7% 19.0%

Gender in Salem

Female
52.4% (13,348)
Male
47.6% (12,129)
  • Salem is 52.4% female with 13,348 female residents.

  • Salem is 47.6% male with 12,129 male residents.

Gender Salem VA USA
Female 52.4% 50.6% 50.5%
Male 47.6% 49.4% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Salem for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Salem completed < 9th grade.

  • 4.0% of adults in Salem completed 9-12th grade.

  • 29.0% of adults in Salem completed high school / ged.

  • 22.0% of adults in Salem completed some college.

  • 12.0% of adults in Salem completed associate's degree.

  • 18.0% of adults in Salem completed bachelor's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Salem completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Salem completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Salem completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (509)
9-12th Grade
4.0% (1,019)
High School / GED
29.0% (7,388)
Some College
22.0% (5,604)
Associate's Degree
12.0% (3,057)
Bachelor's Degree
18.0% (4,585)
Master's Degree
9.0% (2,292)
Professional Degree
2.0% (509)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (509)
Education Salem VA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 4.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 29.0% 24.0% 26.0%
Some College 22.0% 18.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 12.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 18.0% 23.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 9.0% 13.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Salem, Virginia

  • 4.5% of households in Salem earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.8% of households in Salem earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 7.3% of households in Salem earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 9.2% of households in Salem earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.1% of households in Salem earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.4% of households in Salem earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.6% of households in Salem earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 17.3% of households in Salem earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 7.0% of households in Salem earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 7.8% of households in Salem earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
4.5% (114,068)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.8% (72,360)
$15,000 to $24,999
7.3% (187,183)
$25,000 to $34,999
9.2% (234,167)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.1% (334,417)
$50,000 to $74,999
19.4% (494,213)
$75,000 to $99,999
11.6% (294,719)
$100,000 to $149,999
17.3% (440,445)
$150,000 to $199,999
7.0% (178,137)
$200,000 or more
7.8% (197,986)
Income Salem VA USA
Less than $10,000 4.5% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.8% 2.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 7.3% 5.5% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 9.2% 5.9% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.1% 9.1% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.4% 14.6% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.6% 12.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 17.3% 18.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 7.0% 10.7% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 7.8% 16.9% 12.6%

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