What are the schools like in Salem, NY?

Salem is served primarily by SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.9:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, NY is $75,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.7%.

What is the weather like in Salem, NY?

Salem has an average high temperature of 32.0°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Salem, NY affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $138,200 and the median rent is $943 per month.

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

Salem has a violent crime rate of 55.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 178.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, NY a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small town of 854 in New York, with a median household income of $75,250 and a 10.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, 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: 93.6

Salem's overall cost of living index is 93.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$138,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$943	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Salem's violent crime rate is 55.6 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

55.6 /100k

Property Crime

178.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, NY	National Avg
School District	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 32.0°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 46.9 inches of annual precipitation and 75.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, NY
Average High — January	32.0°F
Average High — July	80.9°F
Annual Precipitation	46.9"
Annual Snowfall	75.2"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, NY	National Avg
Population	854	—
Median Age	47.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	11.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Argyle, NY 9 mi Cambridge, NY 10 mi Greenwich, NY 10 mi Arlington, VT 11 mi Dorset, VT 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

12865

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, NY vs Argyle, NY Salem, NY vs Cambridge, NY Salem, NY vs Greenwich, NY Salem, NY vs Arlington, VT Salem, NY vs Dorset, VT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, NY affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Salem roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $138,200 and median rent is $943/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, NY?

Salem's violent crime rate is 55.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 178.1 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 CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, NY a good place to live?

Salem, NY has a population of 854, a median household income of $75,250, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Salem?

Salem averages 32.0°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.9 inches with about 75.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 12865.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, New York is 854 with a median age of 47.5. 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 94 (100 = US average), median home $138,200, median household income $75,250, crime index 12 (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.