United States › North Carolina › Salem CITY
Salem North Carolina · 2,377 residents · 4.29 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Salem is home to 2,377 people in North Carolina. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $159,100. 98% were living in the same home a year earlier. The foreign-born share is 5%. Renters pay $856 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% 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 554 / sq mi
−14%since 2009
from 647 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 27.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K 2K 2K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Salem Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $68,988
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,050 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,506 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.365 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 3.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Education & health services 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$159,100
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$856
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $464 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 74.9% in 2000
28.2% rent
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.46 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 78.5%(2,296)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(64)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 80.9%(1,923)
Hispanic / Latino 14.6%(347)
from 38 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 75.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 20.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 94.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 46.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 44.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 16.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 8.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 56.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 10%(23)
Share of the 230 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Salem, North Carolina? Salem, North Carolina has about 2,377 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Salem, North Carolina? The typical household in Salem, North Carolina earns about $68,988 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Salem, North Carolina expensive? In Salem, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $159,100, and the typical rent is about $856 a month.
How educated are people in Salem, North Carolina? About 22.8% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Salem, North Carolina? About 19.1% of people in Salem, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Salem, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Salem, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 22 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.
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