The Town FilesSalem, Illinois
City in Marion County · population 7,282 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,100
- Household income
- $59,728
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.1
Salem is a city of 7,282 people in Marion County, Illinois. The median home is worth $106,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 76% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $106,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $59,728, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $774 | $960 |
| Median household income | $59,728 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 15, 1998 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1991: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 12,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,266 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Salem
4 public schools with 1,882 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Community High School | 9-12 | 714 | 16.2 |
| Franklin Park Middle School | 4-8 | 559 | 12.7 |
| Hawthorn Elem School | K-3 | 378 | 12.6 |
| Selmaville Elem School | PK-8 | 231 | 13.6 |
Towns near Salem
- Centralia, IL11.5 mi · 12,182 people · home $89,600
- Mount Vernon, IL21.8 mi · 14,600 people · home $99,800
- Carlyle, IL22.5 mi · 3,253 people · home $155,000
- Vandalia, IL25.3 mi · 7,458 people · home $98,500
- Flora, IL26.3 mi · 4,803 people · home $77,300
- Greenville, IL29.3 mi · 7,083 people · home $122,000
Salem questions
Is Salem, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 17% of Illinois towns and quieter than 29%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $106,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,728, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 15, 1998. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)