Salem, Virginia Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Salem, VA Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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B
Health Around average
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C
Income Below average
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C
Education Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,618 | 8,702,460 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1752.0 | 203.3 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.15% | 0.57% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.4 | 37.3 |
| Households | 10,256 | 3,364,625 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Salem grew by 1.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 25,618 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Salem is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 23.9% of residents. That is 2.6 points above Virginia as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 6,133 23.9% +2.6 pts
- Millennials 29–44 4,819 18.8% -3.6 pts
- Gen X 45–60 5,001 19.5% -0.9 pts
- Boomers 61–79 5,216 20.4% +3.8 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Virginia, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 52.6% of the people living in Salem and men 47.4%.
- Women 52.6% Virginia 50.6%
- Men 47.4% Virginia 49.4%
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Economy
Salem has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,398 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.85% | 4.33% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Salem is about 29% lower than in Virginia.
Housing
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $334,782 | $256,082 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,132 | $1,579 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.8% | 67.3% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Salem is about 24.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,132 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Salem spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 143 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.2 | 23.2 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.4 | 46.3 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 143 | 193 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,444 | $5,986 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 15,298 | 10,059 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,771 | 1,531 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Salem is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Salem has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 37.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.27 | 2.52 | 2.53 |
Health
Salem has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.6 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.9% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.4% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
Salem, VA Compared With Nearby Cities
How Salem, VA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, VA | 25,618 | $66,398 #2/3 | $334,782 #1/3 | 17.2 min #1/3 |
| Cave Spring, VA | 23,140 | $83,579 | $38,103 | 17.6 min |
| Roanoke, VA | 98,343 | $55,625 | $196,627 | 17.4 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Salem, Virginia.
How many people live in Salem, Virginia?
About 25,618 people live in Salem, Virginia, in 10,256 households of 2.3 people on average. The median age is 40.0, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 3 years.
Is Salem, Virginia urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, Salem, Virginia has 1,752 people per square mile, a density typical of urban and suburban areas. That is about 20 times the U.S. average of 86.
How affordable is housing in Salem, Virginia?
The median home costs 5.0 times the median household income ($334,782 against $66,398), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,132 a month takes about 20% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in Salem, Virginia?
Unemployment in Salem, Virginia is only 3.6%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
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