New Salem is a small town of 210 in Illinois, with a median household income of $57,292
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
New Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether New Salem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All New 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: 89.8
New Salem's overall cost of living index is 89.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in New Salem costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
New Salem, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$95,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,292
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
New Salem's violent crime rate is 51.4 per 100,000 residents
— 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
51.4 /100k
Property Crime
282.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
New Salem, IL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
New Salem sees average highs of 36.5°F in January
and 87.5°F in July,
with 40.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 15.6 inches of snow per year.
New Salem's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes New Salem roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $95,200 and median rent is $675/month.
New Salem's violent crime rate is 51.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 282.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
New Salem, IL has a population of 210, a median household income of $57,292, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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.
New Salem averages 36.5°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.5 inches
with about 15.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
New Salem, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62357.
The population of New Salem, Illinois is 210 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in New Salem: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $95,200, median household income $57,292, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare New Salem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.