Salem West Virginia · Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) / CC BY-SA 2.5Railroad Station Salem WV from Baltimore & Ohio Employes Magazine June 1914 Vol 02 No 09 Page 25 · Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company / Public domainSALEM COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, HARRISON COUNTY, WV; · JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD / CC BY-SA 3.0
Salem is a small town of 1,873 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $45,521
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% 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: 86.1
Salem's overall cost of living index is 86.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salem costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salem, WV
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$628
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,521
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Salem's violent crime rate is 104.1 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
104.1 /100k
Property Crime
709.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Salem is served primarily by Harrison County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Salem, WV
National Avg
School District
Harrison County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salem sees average highs of 40.9°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 52.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.2 inches of snow per year.
Salem's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Salem roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,400 and median rent is $628/month.
Salem's violent crime rate is 104.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 709.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Salem are operated by Harrison County Schools.
The district has 11 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Salem, WV has a population of 1,873, a median household income of $45,521, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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 40.9°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.2 inches
with about 23.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salem, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 26426.
The population of Salem, West Virginia is 1,873 with a median age of 30.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salem: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $67,400, median household income $45,521, crime index 30 (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.
