The Town FilesSalem Lakes, Wisconsin
Village in Kenosha County · population 14,601 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,100
- Household income
- $94,819
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 43.9
Salem Lakes is a village of 14,601 people in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $316,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 87% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Salem Lakes ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem Lakes is worth $316,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $94,819, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,184 a month. 83.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,184 | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,819 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 83.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Salem Lakes
| People | Salem Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Salem Lakes
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem Lakes since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 7, 2008 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.90 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Kenosha County since 1996
Kenosha County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Kenosha County
Kenosha County had 74,313 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,409 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Salem Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Salem Lakes
2 public schools with 1,386 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Elementary | PK-8 | 957 | 14.1 |
| Riverview Elementary | PK-8 | 429 | 14.8 |
Towns near Salem Lakes
- Paddock Lake, WI2.7 mi · 2,919 people · home $255,700
- Randall, WI4.2 mi · 3,285 people · home $348,400
- Antioch, IL5.3 mi · 14,622 people · home $306,700
- Twin Lakes, WI6.1 mi · 6,309 people · home $270,700
- Bristol, WI6.3 mi · 5,192 people · home $312,800
- Wheatland, WI6.7 mi · 3,391 people · home $384,600
- Fox Lake, IL7.9 mi · 10,978 people · home $228,100
- Spring Grove, IL8.1 mi · 5,487 people · home $398,400
Salem Lakes questions
Is Salem Lakes, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem Lakes scores better for retirees than 3% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 15%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Salem Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem Lakes is valued at $316,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,819, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,184 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem Lakes?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Salem Lakes get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 7, 2008. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)