The Town FilesSalem, Virginia
City in Salem city · population 25,346 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,600
- Household income
- $66,725
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.0
Salem is a city of 25,346 people in Salem city, Virginia. The median home is worth $258,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 89% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 88% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 80% of Virginia towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $258,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $66,725, which is more affordable than 48% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,133 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,133 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $66,725 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 4, 1974 about 1.7 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 91 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 22, 2004.
Severe weather in Salem city since 1996
Salem city has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Salem city
Salem city had 20,481 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,388 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Salem
14 public schools with 5,529 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High | 9-12 | 1,213 | 11.8 |
| Andrew Lewis Middle | 6-8 | 850 | 13.7 |
| Glenvar High | 9-12 | 621 | 14.1 |
| G.W. Carver Elementary | PK-5 | 426 | 15.2 |
| Glenvar Middle | 6-8 | 424 | 10.9 |
| West Salem Elementary | PK-5 | 407 | 16.3 |
| South Salem Elementary | PK-5 | 389 | 13.4 |
| Glenvar Elementary | PK-5 | 376 | 14.5 |
| East Salem Elementary | PK-5 | 366 | 13.1 |
| Fort Lewis Elementary | PK-5 | 247 | 14.5 |
| Mason's Cove Elementary | PK-5 | 210 | 11.1 |
| Salem Alternative | Other | — | — |
Towns near Salem
- Cave Spring, VA4.8 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
- Roanoke, VA5.4 mi · 100,011 people · home $190,500
- Hollins, VA7.0 mi · 15,574 people · home $244,300
- Vinton, VA9.2 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
- Cloverdale, VA9.7 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
- Daleville, VA11.8 mi · 3,070 people · home $370,100
- Blue Ridge, VA14.4 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Blacksburg, VA20.8 mi · 44,826 people · home $446,300
Salem questions
Is Salem, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 55% of Virginia towns and quieter than 31%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $258,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,725, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,133 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 4, 1974. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)