With 5,330 people, West Salem is a city in Wisconsin. Few US cities rank higher on income. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. About 46% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Households here earn about 25% more than in Wisconsin as a whole.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $97,019, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about West Salem
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree18.0% → 46.0%(+28.0 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$63,357 → $97,019(+53%)US over the same years: +14%
Median home value (2024 dollars)$135,844 → $277,100(+104%)US over the same years: +67%
West Salem's population equals 4.4% of La Crosse County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 3.1% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 2.7% of the county's.
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)35.8%(100)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.1%(42)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.5%(85)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.5%(7)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 279 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
Over time
West Salem, decade by decade
West Salem population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,611
$63,357
$135,844
18.0%
1.7
2000
4,540
$79,149
$168,139
21.9%
6.0
2010
4,799
$71,929
$192,193
24.9%
10.1
2020
5,277
$80,027
$230,772
40.4%
20.2
2024
5,330
$97,019
$277,100
46.0%
29.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
