At a Glance
Median Income
$85,137
$49,734 per capita
Home Value
$497,400
Zillow: $608,927
Median Rent
$1,800/mo
32.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
152/100K
1,556/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
49.6%
91.9% high school+
Unemployment
5.2%
11.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
30.1%
11.4% 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
3.3 / 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 $85,137 , which is 13% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $49,734. The unemployment rate stands at 5.2% (44% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 28,628 business establishments, including 1,878 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Salem is $497,400 , 76% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $608,927. Median rent is $1,800/month, with 32.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 105.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1940.
Safety & Crime
Salem reports 152 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 60% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,556/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
49.6% of adults in Salem hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(47% above the national average).
91.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Salem has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 44.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.
Data Overview
People
Population44,241
Median Age38.5 yrs
Density5,337/mi²
Male / Female45% / 55%
Foreign Born15.4%
Veterans3.6%
Economy
B+
Median Income$85,137
Per Capita$49,734
Unemployment5.2%
Poverty11.6%
County GDP$60,733M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,453
Housing
B
Home Value$497,400
Rent$1,800
Ownership51.4%
Zillow$608,927
Housing Units21,086
Rent Burden32.1%
Crime
F
Violent152/100K
Property1,556/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault104/100K
Burglary107/100K
Health
Obesity30.1%
Diabetes8.6%
Smoking11.4%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death5,853/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain44.9 in/yr
AQI37 (Good)
Elevation26 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+49.6%
High School+91.9%
Graduate+19.7%
School Score6.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 39% / D 59%
Commute30 min
Broadband90.7%
Internet Speed201 Mbps
EV Stations41
Libraries38
Did You Know?
Salem was founded in 1626.
The median home in Salem was built in 1940.
19.4% work from home.
The nearest airport is Beverly Regional (6 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.483 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
11.8% of the population has a disability.
15.4% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 201 Mbps.
There are 1,878 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 30 fatal vehicle crashes.