What are the schools like in Salem, MO?

Salem is served primarily by SALEM R-80. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, MO is $35,413 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.0%.

What is the weather like in Salem, MO?

Salem has an average high temperature of 42.6°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Salem, MO affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $87,200 and the median rent is $607 per month.

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

Salem has a violent crime rate of 190.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1689.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, MO a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small town of 4,673 in Missouri, with a median household income of $35,413 and a 7.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 86.8

Salem's overall cost of living index is 86.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$87,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$607	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,413	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Salem's violent crime rate is 190.0 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

190.0 /100k

Property Crime

1689.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by SALEM R-80. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, MO	National Avg
School District	SALEM R-80	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 42.6°F in January and 87.6°F in July, with 47.0 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, MO
Average High — January	42.6°F
Average High — July	87.6°F
Annual Precipitation	47.0"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, MO	National Avg
Population	4,673	—
Median Age	42.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	23.2%	22.2%
65 and over	22.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Edgar Springs, MO 19 mi Licking, MO 20 mi Bunker, MO 22 mi Viburnum, MO 23 mi Rolla, MO 25 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

65560

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, MO vs Edgar Springs, MO Salem, MO vs Licking, MO Salem, MO vs Bunker, MO Salem, MO vs Viburnum, MO Salem, MO vs Rolla, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, MO affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Salem roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $87,200 and median rent is $607/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, MO?

Salem's violent crime rate is 190.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1689.2 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 R-80. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, MO a good place to live?

Salem, MO has a population of 4,673, a median household income of $35,413, and an unemployment rate of 7.0%. 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 42.6°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.0 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65560.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, Missouri is 4,673 with a median age of 42.4. 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 87 (100 = US average), median home $87,200, median household income $35,413, crime index 62 (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.