CensusEasy
CITY

Salem

Ohio · 11,655 residents (2025 est.) · 6.431 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Salem micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Salem has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,073. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $119,400. The poverty rate of 21.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the Ohio median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,758
−4%since 2000
from 12,197 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,828 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 1,897 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+6%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,655 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K12K12K12K1990201020202024Salem
202412K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,073
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,006 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,259
+89%since 2000
from $16,579 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.0%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.478
+14%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,400
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$763
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $450 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.3%
−8.2 ptssince 2000
from 65.5% in 2000
42.7% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.9%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−1%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.9%(11,945)
Black0.5%(62)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(66)
Asian0.3%(42)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.5%(424)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(11,272)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(184)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.5%(294)
Diversity Score10%(1,177)
Diversity Score
10
+188%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.8%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+55%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
5.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−29.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−43.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−75.1 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.2%
+14.0 ptssince 2017
from 71.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Salem

New Port Richey East
Pop 11,939
Florida City
Pop 13,576
Beverly Hills
Pop 9,650
Hudson
Pop 11,254
Places similar to Salem
Head to head

Compare Salem to nearby cities

SALEM VS
Alliance
Income$56,106+19%
Home value$125,400+5%
Population21,582+85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Austintown
Income$52,978+13%
Home value$144,300+21%
Population30,164+159%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Struthers
Income$53,447+14%
Home value$100,100−16%
Population9,837−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Youngstown
Income$34,408−27%
Home value$63,300−47%
Population58,832+405%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, Ohio?

Salem, Ohio has about 11,758 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salem, Ohio?

The typical household in Salem, Ohio earns about $47,073 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Salem, Ohio expensive?

In Salem, Ohio, the median home is worth about $119,400, and the typical rent is about $763 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, Ohio?

About 19.8% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, Ohio hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Salem, Ohio?

About 21.3% of people in Salem, Ohio live below the federal poverty line.

Has Salem, Ohio grown since 1990?

Yes, Salem, Ohio has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 481 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Ohio
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Salem with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →