West Salem is a small town of 769 in Illinois, with a median household income of $53,304
and a 11.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
West Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Salem is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West 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: 88.6
West Salem's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in West Salem costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
West Salem, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$69,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$700
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,304
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
West Salem's violent crime rate is 15.6 per 100,000 residents
— 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
15.6 /100k
Property Crime
93.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Salem is served primarily by Edwards County CUSD 1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
West Salem, IL
National Avg
School District
Edwards County CUSD 1
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
West Salem sees average highs of 39.8°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 48.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.5 inches of snow per year.
West Salem's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes West Salem roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $69,600 and median rent is $700/month.
West Salem's violent crime rate is 15.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 93.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Salem are operated by Edwards County CUSD 1.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 11.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Salem, IL has a population of 769, a median household income of $53,304, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%.
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.
West Salem averages 39.8°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.8 inches
with about 10.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
West Salem, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62476.
The population of West Salem, Illinois is 769 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Salem: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $69,600, median household income $53,304, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West Salem side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
