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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Salem

West Virginia · 2,006 residents · 1.338 sq mi
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The short version

Salem has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $16,577. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $43,200. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 34.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 44% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,006
−3%since 1990
from 2,063 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.6
Unchangedsince 1990
from 30.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Salem
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.7%(95)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 94.9%(98)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145%(101)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 199.9%(198)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2419%(381)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.8%(217)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4410.2%(205)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.9%(218)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.4%(149)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.2%(145)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.2%(124)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over3.7%(75)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$16,577
−5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $13,214 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,188
+61%since 1990
from $6,970 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
34.8%
+1.7 ptssince 1990
from 33.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$43,200
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $32,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$296
−8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $243 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
53.4%
−2.3 ptssince 1990
from 55.6% in 1990
46.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(1,985)
Black1.6%(33)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(26)
Asian1.3%(26)
2000
White, non-Hispanic87%(1,746)
Black2.3%(47)
Hispanic / Latino1%(20)
Asian7.9%(159)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.5%(25)
Mexican0.4%(6)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.7%(12)
Ancestry
Irish11.6%(189)
German10.3%(168)
English9.9%(161)
American6.9%(112)
Italian3.5%(57)
Scottish1.9%(31)
Polish1.2%(19)
Canadian1.1%(18)
Dutch0.9%(15)
Czech0.9%(14)
Greek0.9%(14)
Hungarian0.6%(9)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Serbian0.4%(6)
Slovak0.3%(5)
Norwegian0.2%(4)
British0.2%(3)
French0.2%(3)
Swiss0.2%(3)
Ukrainian0.2%(3)
Swedish0.1%(2)
Welsh0.1%(1)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.3%
+3.7 ptssince 1990
from 14.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
69.5%
+7.3 ptssince 1990
from 62.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+2.9 ptssince 1990
from 5.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.8 min
−42%since 1990
from 20.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married47.8%(426)
Married41.6%(371)
Widowed3.6%(32)
Divorced7%(62)
Women 15+
Never married28.4%(233)
Married42.4%(348)
Widowed17.9%(147)
Divorced11.2%(92)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Salem to nearby cities

SALEM VS
Clarksburg
Income$47,386+186%
Home value$129,900+201%
Population15,562+891%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Bridgeport
Income$100,022+503%
Home value$291,600+575%
Population9,427+500%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Fairmont
Income$63,032+280%
Home value$163,800+279%
Population18,035+1049%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Morgantown
Income$44,727+170%
Home value$259,400+500%
Population30,293+1829%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, West Virginia?

Salem, West Virginia has about 2,006 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Salem, West Virginia?

The typical household in Salem, West Virginia earns about $16,577 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 $43,200, and the typical rent is about $296 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, West Virginia?

About 18.3% 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 34.8% 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 57 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →