At a Glance
Median Income
$59,583
$26,012 per capita
Home Value
$75,000
Zillow: $229,523
Median Rent
$850/mo
33.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
5.2%
91.9% high school+
Unemployment
1.7%
7.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.8%
16.5% smoking rate
How Salem Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Salem's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Salem a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Salem residents earn a median household income of $59,583 , which is 21% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,012. The unemployment rate stands at 1.7% (53% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 638 business establishments, including 36 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Salem is $75,000 , 73% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $229,523. Median rent is $850/month, with 33.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1947.
Education
5.2% of adults in Salem hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(85% below the national average).
91.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Salem has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population363
Median Age48.2 yrs
Density576/mi²
Male / Female45% / 55%
Foreign Born1.7%
Veterans7.4%
Economy
A
Median Income$59,583
Per Capita$26,012
Unemployment1.7%
Poverty7.5%
County GDP$1,154M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,008
Housing
A+
Home Value$75,000
Rent$850
Ownership83.2%
Zillow$229,523
Housing Units149
Rent Burden33.3%
Health
Obesity38.8%
Diabetes9.7%
Smoking16.5%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death6,888/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain38.5 in/yr
Elevation712 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+5.2%
High School+91.9%
Graduate+1.6%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 67% / D 31%
Commute26 min
Broadband79.2%
Internet Speed53 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries5
Did You Know?
The median home in Salem was built in 1947.
The nearest airport is Southeast Iowa Regional (26 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.396 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
23.6% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.