The Town FilesSalem, Massachusetts
City in Essex County · population 44,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $542,800
- Household income
- $85,153
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 39.3
Salem is a city of 44,480 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $542,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Massachusetts towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $542,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $85,153, which is more affordable than 15% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,836 a month. 49.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $542,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,836 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $85,153 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 49.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.3% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 323,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,548 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Salem
12 public schools with 4,299 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High | 9-12 | 948 | 9.5 |
| Collins Middle | 6-8 | 625 | 11.0 |
| Salem Academy Charter School (charter) | 6-12 | 488 | 12.5 |
| Witchcraft Heights | K-5 | 446 | 12.4 |
| Bates | PK-5 | 397 | 12.8 |
| Saltonstall School | K-8 | 390 | 12.6 |
| Horace Mann Laboratory | PK-5 | 307 | 12.3 |
| Bentley Academy Innovation School | K-5 | 270 | 9.6 |
| Carlton | K-5 | 254 | 9.8 |
| Salem Early Childhood | PK-PK | 112 | 11.2 |
| New Liberty Innovation School | 9-12 | 45 | 9.0 |
| Salem Prep High School | 8-12 | 17 | 5.7 |
Towns near Salem
- Swampscott, MA2.2 mi · 15,111 people · home $771,100
- Marblehead, MA3.2 mi · 20,441 people · home $943,900
- Lynn, MA3.7 mi · 101,253 people · home $510,100
- Peabody, MA4.4 mi · 54,481 people · home $596,200
- Beverly, MA4.8 mi · 42,670 people · home $650,300
- Danvers, MA5.8 mi · 28,087 people · home $644,200
- Nahant, MA5.9 mi · 3,334 people · home $748,800
- Saugus, MA6.3 mi · 28,619 people · home $603,400
Salem questions
Is Salem, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 17% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 4%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $542,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,153, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,836 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- 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)