What are the schools like in Salem, IA?

Salem is served primarily by Mount Pleasant Comm School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, IA is $53,125 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Salem, IA?

Salem has an average high temperature of 31.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.7 inches.

Salem, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Salem, IA affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $73,300 and the median rent is $732 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Salem, IA?

Salem has a violent crime rate of 145.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 661.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, IA a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small town of 338 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,125 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Salem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Salem city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.3

Salem's overall cost of living index is 86.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$73,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$732	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	86.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,125	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Salem's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

145.3 /100k

Property Crime

661.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by Mount Pleasant Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, IA	National Avg
School District	Mount Pleasant Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 31.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 25.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, IA
Average High — January	31.4°F
Average High — July	84.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	25.7"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, IA	National Avg
Population	338	—
Median Age	50.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	3.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.2%	22.2%
65 and over	23.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Houghton, IA 5 mi Hillsboro, IA 5 mi Westwood, IA 8 mi St. Paul, IA 8 mi Mount Pleasant, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52649

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, IA vs Houghton, IA Salem, IA vs Hillsboro, IA Salem, IA vs Westwood, IA Salem, IA vs St. Paul, IA Salem, IA vs Mount Pleasant, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, IA affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Salem roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $73,300 and median rent is $732/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, IA?

Salem's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 661.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Salem?

Public schools in Salem are operated by Mount Pleasant Comm School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 4.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, IA a good place to live?

Salem, IA has a population of 338, a median household income of $53,125, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Salem?

Salem averages 31.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 25.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52649.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, Iowa is 338 with a median age of 50.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Salem?

Key numbers for living in Salem: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $73,300, median household income $53,125, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Salem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.