The Town FilesSalem, Missouri
City in Dent County · population 4,608 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,000
- Household income
- $43,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.3
Salem is a city of 4,608 people in Dent County, Missouri. The median home is worth $115,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $115,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $43,923, which is more affordable than 58% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $639 a month. 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $639 | $855 |
| Median household income | $43,923 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 21, 1957 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2023.
Severe weather in Dent County since 1996
Dent County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dent County
Dent County had 3,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,359 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Salem
9 public schools with 2,231 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALEM SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 630 | 17.0 |
| SALEM UPPER ELEM. | 2-5 | 342 | 13.2 |
| DENT-PHELPS ELEM. | PK-8 | 272 | 11.8 |
| WM. H. LYNCH ELEM. | PK-1 | 256 | 15.1 |
| SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 251 | 12.6 |
| NORTH WOOD ELEM. | PK-8 | 174 | 12.4 |
| GREEN FOREST ELEM. | K-8 | 160 | 10.7 |
| OAK HILL ELEM. | K-8 | 140 | 11.7 |
| OZARK HILLS SCHOOL | K-12 | 6 | 6.0 |
Towns near Salem
- Licking, MO20.3 mi · 2,851 people · home $116,900
- Rolla, MO24.5 mi · 19,943 people · home $187,000
- St. James, MO25.4 mi · 3,935 people · home $142,000
Salem questions
Is Salem, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 31% of Missouri towns and quieter than 16%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $115,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,923, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $639 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 21, 1957. The typical Missouri 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)