What are the schools like in Salem, IL?

Salem is served primarily by Salem SD 111. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, IL is $55,536 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Salem, IL?

Salem has an average high temperature of 38.4°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Salem, IL affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $95,300 and the median rent is $729 per month.

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

Salem has a violent crime rate of 386.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1144.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, IL a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small town of 7,228 in Illinois, with a median household income of $55,536 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 90.4

Salem's overall cost of living index is 90.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$95,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$729	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,536	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Salem's violent crime rate is 386.4 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

386.4 /100k

Property Crime

1144.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by Salem SD 111. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, IL	National Avg
School District	Salem SD 111	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 38.4°F in January and 87.8°F in July, with 45.9 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, IL
Average High — January	38.4°F
Average High — July	87.8°F
Annual Precipitation	45.9"
Annual Snowfall	10.2"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, IL	National Avg
Population	7,228	—
Median Age	36.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	24.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Odin, IL 5 mi Alma, IL 7 mi Sandoval, IL 9 mi Iuka, IL 9 mi Junction City, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62881

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, IL vs Odin, IL Salem, IL vs Alma, IL Salem, IL vs Sandoval, IL Salem, IL vs Iuka, IL Salem, IL vs Junction City, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, IL affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Salem roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $95,300 and median rent is $729/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, IL?

Salem's violent crime rate is 386.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1144.8 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 Salem SD 111. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, IL a good place to live?

Salem, IL has a population of 7,228, a median household income of $55,536, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 38.4°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.9 inches with about 10.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62881.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, Illinois is 7,228 with a median age of 36.4. 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 90 (100 = US average), median home $95,300, median household income $55,536, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.