United States › Wisconsin › West Salem CITY
West Salem Wisconsin · 5,288 residents (2025 est.) · 3.35 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
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,540 in 2000
5,288 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,592 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 1,434 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 4K 4K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 West Salem Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $97,019
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,449 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $19,904 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.347 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.5%
Education & health services 1.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$277,100
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,283
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $500 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 75.1% in 2000
22.3% rent
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.44 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 35.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.7 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 97.6%(4,429)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(27)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 86.9%(4,634)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(152)
from 6 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
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 21.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 88.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 87.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 71.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 80.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 2.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 85.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 2.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 16.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 80.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 26.9% 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) 35.8%(100)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.1%(42)
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
Drill deeper
Places similar to West Salem Head to head
Compare West Salem to nearby cities WEST SALEM VS
Onalaska
Income $85,867 −11%
Home value $288,900 +4%
Population 20,297 +284%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST SALEM VS
La Crosse
Income $55,866 −42%
Home value $210,100 −24%
Population 50,784 +860%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST SALEM VS
Holmen
Income $79,899 −18%
Home value $285,900 +3%
Population 12,105 +129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST SALEM VS
Sparta
Income $64,973 −33%
Home value $180,600 −35%
Population 9,974 +89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in West Salem, Wisconsin? West Salem, Wisconsin has about 5,330 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in West Salem, Wisconsin? The typical household in West Salem, Wisconsin earns about $97,019 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is West Salem, Wisconsin expensive? In West Salem, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $277,100, and the typical rent is about $1,283 a month.
How educated are people in West Salem, Wisconsin? About 46.0% of adults age 25 and over in West Salem, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in West Salem, Wisconsin? About 8.6% of people in West Salem, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has West Salem, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, West Salem, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,719 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 