CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Salem

North Carolina · 2,355 residents · 4.29 sq mi

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The short version

With 2,355 people, Salem is a city in North Carolina. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. At a median age of 37.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $56,000. There are 568 fewer people here than in 2000.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 37.5

US median: 33.0

Less educated

8% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 19%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

2,355

−19%vs 2000

vs 2,923 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Median age

37.5

+36%vs 2000

vs 27.7 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

4.29 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20242K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 55.6%(133)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.4%(197)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.4%(150)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 196.8%(161)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 246.3%(149)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3412.4%(292)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4414.4%(339)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5414.6%(343)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6410.8%(254)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 747.9%(185)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 845.9%(138)

US avg: 4%

85 and over0.6%(14)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$25,509

+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $32,050 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$11,709

−19%vs 2000

vs $14,506 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

8.9%

−1.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 10.7% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$56,000

−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $91,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$323

−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $464 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

77.7%

+2.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 74.9% in 2000

22.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic78.5%(2,296)

Black15.6%(456)

Hispanic / Latino2.2%(64)

Asian1.8%(53)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic98.5%(2,319)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0%(0)

Asian0%(0)

Other1.5%(36)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican4.8%(113)

Central American4.6%(109)

Guatemalan4.6%(109)

Ancestry

American23.6%(562)

English19.9%(473)

German13.5%(320)

Irish9.1%(217)

Italian3%(71)

Scotch-Irish2.6%(62)

Scottish2.1%(49)

Dutch1.2%(29)

West Indian0.8%(18)

Barbadian0.8%(18)

Swedish0.5%(11)

Arab0.3%(6)

+ 2 more ancestry groups with data

Lebanese0.3%(6)

French0.2%(5)

RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

8.5%

−3.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 11.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

56.4%

−18.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 75.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

1.3%

−1.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 2.5% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

16.7 min

+41%vs 2000

vs 11.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married16.8%(163)

Married55%(532)

Widowed11.5%(111)

Divorced16.7%(162)

Women 15+

Never married30.9%(308)

Married49.9%(497)

Widowed6.4%(64)

Divorced12.8%(127)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

6.7%

−7.4 ptssince 2013

from 14.1% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

60.4%

+13.5 ptssince 2020

from 46.9% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

10.5%

−4.6 ptssince 2020

from 15.1% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

31.0%

−13.5 ptssince 2020

from 44.5% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

22.2%

+5.6 ptssince 2020

from 16.6% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

6.9%

−1.1 ptssince 2020

from 8.0% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

68.4%

+15.4 ptssince 2020

from 53.0% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

50.3%

−6.3 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era80.9%(186)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War3.9%(9)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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