What are the schools like in Salem, VA?

Salem is served primarily by Salem City Public Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.9:1.

What is the median household income in Salem?

The median household income in Salem, VA is $68,402 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Salem, VA?

Salem has an average high temperature of 47.1°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 14.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Salem, VA affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Salem is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $231,900 and the median rent is $1,053 per month.

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

Salem has a violent crime rate of 125.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1732.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Salem, VA a Good Place to Live?

Salem is a small city of 25,372 in Virginia, with a median household income of $68,402 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% 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 (A-), 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: 90.9

Salem's overall cost of living index is 90.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Salem costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Salem, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$231,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,053	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,402	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Salem's violent crime rate is 125.7 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

125.7 /100k

Property Crime

1732.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Salem is served primarily by Salem City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Salem, VA	National Avg
School District	Salem City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Salem sees average highs of 47.1°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 46.9 inches of annual precipitation and 14.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Salem, VA
Average High — January	47.1°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	46.9"
Annual Snowfall	14.8"

Demographics

Metric	Salem, VA	National Avg
Population	25,372	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.8%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glenvar, VA 4 mi Cave Spring, VA 5 mi Roanoke, VA 5 mi Hollins, VA 7 mi Lafayette, VA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Salem

Salem, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24153

Salem vs Other Cities

Salem, VA vs Glenvar, VA Salem, VA vs Cave Spring, VA Salem, VA vs Roanoke, VA Salem, VA vs Hollins, VA Salem, VA vs Lafayette, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salem, VA affordable or expensive?

Salem's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Salem roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $231,900 and median rent is $1,053/month.

What is the crime rate in Salem, VA?

Salem's violent crime rate is 125.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1732.1 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 City Public Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1. 32.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Salem, VA a good place to live?

Salem, VA has a population of 25,372, a median household income of $68,402, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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.

What is the weather like in Salem?

Salem averages 47.1°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.9 inches with about 14.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Salem?

Salem, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24153.

What is the population of Salem?

The population of Salem, Virginia is 25,372 with a median age of 40.8. 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 91 (100 = US average), median home $231,900, median household income $68,402, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.