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CITY

West Salem

Illinois · 735 residents (2025 est.) · 1.56 sq mi
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The short version

West Salem has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,821. Population has fallen 29% since 2000, a loss of 288 residents. 15% 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 $74,600. With a median age of 46.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 40% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
713
−29%since 2000
from 1,001 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
457 / sq mi
−29%since 2000
from 642 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
46.1
+15%since 2000
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:735 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6737949151K1K1990201020202024West Salem
2024713
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,821
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,031 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,452
+101%since 2000
from $15,179 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.2%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.371
−1%since 2010
from 0.375 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance15.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical15.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade11.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Construction9.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing4.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing3%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$74,600
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$811
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $355 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
17.8% rent
Vacancy rate
29.8%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.9%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
16.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.5
+2%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.8%(989)
Black0.4%(4)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.3%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(644)
Black0.3%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(8)
Asian0%(0)
Other8.3%(59)
Diversity Score22.2%(158)
Diversity Score
22
+1669%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.0%
+13.2 ptssince 2009
from 72.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.6%
−23.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.6% in 2009
Female
48.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−47.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2012
from 15.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.0%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 90.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2017
from 72.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare West Salem to nearby cities

WEST SALEM VS
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Income$59,980+20%
Home value$99,800+34%
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WEST SALEM VS
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Income$57,618+16%
Home value$128,700+73%
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WEST SALEM VS
Vincennes
Income$53,637+8%
Home value$111,600+50%
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WEST SALEM VS
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Income$53,387+7%
Home value$143,100+92%
Population116,176+15706%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Salem, Illinois?

West Salem, Illinois has about 713 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Salem, Illinois?

The typical household in West Salem, Illinois earns about $49,821 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Salem, Illinois expensive?

In West Salem, Illinois, the median home is worth about $74,600, and the typical rent is about $811 a month.

How educated are people in West Salem, Illinois?

About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in West Salem, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Salem, Illinois?

About 8.6% of people in West Salem, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Salem, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, West Salem, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 314 residents, a change of about -31 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 →

West Salem, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy