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CITY

Salem

Illinois · 7,035 residents (2025 est.) · 6.991 sq mi
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Part of the Centralia micropolitan area
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The short version

Salem has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,728. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $106,100. Households here earn about 28% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,236
−9%since 2000
from 7,909 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,035 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 1,131 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.1
−1%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,035 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K8K8K1990201020202024Salem
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,728
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,339 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,467
+97%since 2000
from $16,954 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.6%
+24.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.3%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+4%since 2010
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,100
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$774
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $367 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
35.0% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+7%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(7,638)
Black0.7%(57)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(57)
Asian1.1%(90)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.4%(505)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(6,610)
Black2.6%(186)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(37)
Asian0.9%(63)
Other4.7%(340)
Diversity Score20.3%(1,470)
Diversity Score
20
+218%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.9 min
+9%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.6%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2011
from 59.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.0%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
52.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2012
from 16.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.1%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2017
from 77.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Salem to nearby cities

SALEM VS
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Income$47,807−20%
Home value$89,600−16%
Population11,863+69%
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SALEM VS
Mount Vernon
Income$55,357−7%
Home value$99,800−6%
Population14,187+102%
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SALEM VS
Highland
Income$82,551+38%
Home value$202,900+91%
Population10,042+43%
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SALEM VS
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Income$72,377+21%
Home value$177,500+67%
Population12,406+76%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, Illinois?

Salem, Illinois has about 7,236 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salem, Illinois?

The typical household in Salem, Illinois earns about $59,728 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Salem, Illinois expensive?

In Salem, Illinois, the median home is worth about $106,100, and the typical rent is about $774 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, Illinois?

About 15.6% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Salem, Illinois?

About 16.3% of people in Salem, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Salem, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Salem, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 234 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →