Salem is a small town of 879 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $47,054
and a 3.7% 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.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 86.0
Salem's overall cost of living index is 86.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salem costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salem, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$89,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$650
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,054
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Salem's violent crime rate is 54.4 per 100,000 residents
— 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
54.4 /100k
Property Crime
696.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Salem, KY
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
11.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salem sees average highs of 42.8°F in January
and 87.9°F in July,
with 50.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.8 inches of snow per year.
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 $89,500 and median rent is $650/month.
Salem's violent crime rate is 54.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 696.1 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.
Salem, KY has a population of 879, a median household income of $47,054, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.
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.
Salem averages 42.8°F in January and 87.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.9 inches
with about 3.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salem, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42078.
The population of Salem, Kentucky is 879 with a median age of 48.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salem: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $89,500, median household income $47,054, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.
