West Salem is a small town of 1,528 in Ohio, with a median household income of $61,563
and a 2.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
West Salem stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 87.5
West Salem's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in West Salem costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
West Salem, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$106,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
West Salem's violent crime rate is 116.7 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
116.7 /100k
Property Crime
977.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Salem is served primarily by Northwestern Local.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
West Salem, OH
National Avg
School District
Northwestern Local
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
West Salem sees average highs of 32.2°F in January
and 81.6°F in July,
with 40.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.7 inches of snow per year.
West Salem's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes West Salem roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $106,400 and median rent is $675/month.
West Salem's violent crime rate is 116.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 977.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Salem are operated by Northwestern Local.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 7.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Salem, OH has a population of 1,528, a median household income of $61,563, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%.
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 32.2°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.5 inches
with about 35.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of West Salem, Ohio is 1,528 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Salem: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $106,400, median household income $61,563, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
