The Town FilesSalem, Ohio
City in Columbiana County · population 11,915 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $119,400
- Household income
- $47,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 42.0
Salem is a city of 11,915 people in Columbiana County, Ohio. The median home is worth $119,400, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Ohio towns, hipper than 87% of Ohio towns, better for retirees than 82% of Ohio towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $119,400, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,073, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $763 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,400 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $763 | $914 |
| Median household income | $47,073 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 12, 1978 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Columbiana County since 1996
Columbiana County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4447: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide |
| April 17, 2018 | Flood | DR-4360: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Columbiana County
Columbiana County had 28,452 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,319 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Salem
6 public schools with 2,325 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High School | 9-12 | 658 | 17.3 |
| Buckeye Elementary School | K-2 | 434 | 20.7 |
| West Branch Early Learning Center | K-2 | 385 | 17.5 |
| Southeast Elementary School | 5-6 | 293 | 19.5 |
| Salem Junior High School | 7-8 | 286 | 19.1 |
| Reilly Elementary School | 3-4 | 269 | 26.9 |
Towns near Salem
- Sebring, OH9.2 mi · 4,191 people · home $90,300
- Canfield, OH9.6 mi · 7,699 people · home $254,800
- Columbiana, OH9.6 mi · 6,559 people · home $191,700
- Lisbon, OH10.0 mi · 2,597 people · home $110,000
- Alliance, OH14.1 mi · 21,672 people · home $125,400
- Austintown, OH14.2 mi · 29,594 people · home $144,300
- East Palestine, OH16.5 mi · 4,761 people · home $113,700
- Mineral Ridge, OH16.8 mi · 3,951 people · home $154,600
Salem questions
Is Salem, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 82% of Ohio towns and quieter than 41%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $119,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,073, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $763 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 12, 1978. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)