United States › West Virginia › Salem CITY
Salem West Virginia · 1,570 residents (2025 est.) · 1.34 sq mi
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The short version
Salem is home to 1,629 people in West Virginia. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The median age is 32.6, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $77,800. That trails the West Virginia median by roughly 35%. Renters pay $525 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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 from 2,006 in 2000
1,570 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,217 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 1,429 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Salem Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $38,529
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,577 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $11,188 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 34.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.483 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.8%
Public administration 3.8%
Education & health services 2.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$77,800
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$525
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $296 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 53.4% in 2000
30.3% rent
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 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 87%(1,746)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 92.8%(1,512)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(38)
from 28 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
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 69.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 70.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 78.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 5.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 57.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.8% 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) 46.8%(29)
Gulf War (1990s) 53.2%(33)
Share of the 62 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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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Salem, West Virginia? Salem, West Virginia has about 1,629 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Salem, West Virginia? The typical household in Salem, West Virginia earns about $38,529 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Salem, West Virginia expensive? In Salem, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $77,800, and the typical rent is about $525 a month.
How educated are people in Salem, West Virginia? About 13.9% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Salem, West Virginia? About 16.8% of people in Salem, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Salem, West Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Salem, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 434 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.
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