What are the schools like in Salem, NJ?

Salem is served primarily by Salem City School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, NJ is $35,143 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.5%.

What is the weather like in Salem, NJ?

Salem has an average high temperature of 41.4°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Salem, NJ affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $65,100 and the median rent is $980 per month.

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

Salem has a violent crime rate of 1485.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1710.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small town of 5,285 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $35,143 and a 12.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Salem stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 103.5

Salem's overall cost of living index is 103.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$65,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$980	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	33.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,143	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Salem's violent crime rate is 1485.2 per 100,000 residents — 291% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1485.2 /100k

Property Crime

1710.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by Salem City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, NJ	National Avg
School District	Salem City School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 41.4°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation and 20.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, NJ
Average High — January	41.4°F
Average High — July	86.8°F
Annual Precipitation	47.9"
Annual Snowfall	20.2"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, NJ	National Avg
Population	5,285	—
Median Age	34.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	35.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	59.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	29.9%	22.2%
65 and over	16.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Quinton, NJ 4 mi Hancocks Bridge, NJ 4 mi Pennsville, NJ 6 mi Delaware City, DE 7 mi Alloway, NJ 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08079

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, NJ vs Quinton, NJ Salem, NJ vs Hancocks Bridge, NJ Salem, NJ vs Pennsville, NJ Salem, NJ vs Delaware City, DE Salem, NJ vs Alloway, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, NJ affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Salem roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $65,100 and median rent is $980/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, NJ?

Salem's violent crime rate is 1485.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1710.8 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 City School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 11.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, NJ a good place to live?

Salem, NJ has a population of 5,285, a median household income of $35,143, and an unemployment rate of 12.5%. 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 41.4°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.9 inches with about 20.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08079.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, New Jersey is 5,285 with a median age of 34.6. 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 104 (100 = US average), median home $65,100, median household income $35,143, crime index 267 (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.