The Town FilesSalem, Indiana
City in Washington County · population 6,371 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,700
- Household income
- $56,538
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 43.1
Salem is a city of 6,371 people in Washington County, Indiana. The median home is worth $144,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more walkable than 73% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 70% of Indiana towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $144,700, close to the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $56,538, which is more affordable than 47% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $690 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $690 | $888 |
| Median household income | $56,538 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 2, 2012 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 5,753 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,972 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Salem
3 public schools with 1,655 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradie Shrum Elementary | PK-5 | 782 | 14.0 |
| Salem High School | 9-12 | 497 | 12.7 |
| Salem Middle School | 6-8 | 376 | 13.0 |
Towns near Salem
- Scottsburg, IN17.9 mi · 7,345 people · home $146,200
- Austin, IN18.1 mi · 4,064 people · home $86,200
- Brownstown, IN19.2 mi · 3,025 people · home $146,600
- Paoli, IN20.4 mi · 3,666 people · home $150,700
- Mitchell, IN22.3 mi · 3,933 people · home $114,500
- Georgetown, IN22.3 mi · 3,805 people · home $302,300
- Sellersburg, IN22.5 mi · 9,310 people · home $231,500
- New Albany, IN25.0 mi · 37,841 people · home $180,500
Salem questions
Is Salem, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 48% of Indiana towns and quieter than 38%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $144,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,538, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $690 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 2, 2012. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)