Salem is a small town of 1,163 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $69,228
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 90.3
Salem's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salem costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salem, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$147,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$948
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,228
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Salem's violent crime rate is 89.5 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
89.5 /100k
Property Crime
393.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Salem is served primarily by McCook Central School District 43-7.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Salem, SD
National Avg
School District
McCook Central School District 43-7
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salem sees average highs of 23.6°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 27.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Salem's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Salem roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $147,800 and median rent is $948/month.
Salem's violent crime rate is 89.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 393.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Salem are operated by McCook Central School District 43-7.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Salem, SD has a population of 1,163, a median household income of $69,228, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Salem averages 23.6°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.0 inches
with about 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salem, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57058.
The population of Salem, South Dakota is 1,163 with a median age of 45.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salem: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $147,800, median household income $69,228, crime index 22 (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.
