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CITY · 2020 ACS

Salem

West Virginia · 1,529 residents · 1.338 sq mi
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Part of the Clarksburg micropolitan area
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The short version

Salem has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,114. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 477 residents. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $56,400. At a median age of 34.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 13%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,529
−24%since 2000
from 2,006 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
34.7
+13%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Salem
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(83)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(87)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.2%(79)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 199.9%(152)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2413.5%(207)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.6%(162)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411%(168)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.1%(154)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.3%(203)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.1%(139)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843.8%(58)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(37)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,114
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,577 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,523
+83%since 2000
from $11,188 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
16.6%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.4%
−16.4 ptssince 2000
from 34.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information16.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance8.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing3.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Retail trade1.6%
US avg: 10%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration0.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$56,400
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$576
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $296 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
61.3%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 53.4% in 2000
38.7% rent
Afford Score
1.4
−42%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salem on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87%(1,746)
Black2.3%(47)
Hispanic / Latino1%(20)
Asian7.9%(159)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic87.6%(1,339)
Black4.6%(71)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(52)
Asian0.5%(8)
Other4.4%(67)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.5%(9)
Asian origin
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German18.1%(337)
English9.9%(185)
Irish8.2%(152)
Italian6.9%(128)
American6.6%(123)
Polish6.6%(122)
French2.4%(45)
Scotch-Irish2.4%(45)
Welsh1.8%(34)
Belgian1.7%(31)
British1.3%(25)
Norwegian1.3%(25)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.2%(22)
Scottish0.8%(15)
Portuguese0.4%(8)
Brazilian0.4%(7)
Greek0.3%(6)
Swiss0.3%(6)
Hungarian0.3%(5)
Swedish0.3%(5)
Czech0.2%(4)
Ukrainian0.2%(4)
Russian0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.8%
+22.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+69%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
70.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.3%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2011
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
19.3%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.4%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
Female
43.6%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
20.4%
−61.5 ptssince 2013
from 81.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married55.3%(464)
Married23.4%(196)
Widowed9.8%(82)
Divorced11.6%(97)
Women 15+
Never married41.7%(270)
Married27.5%(178)
Widowed7.6%(49)
Divorced23.3%(151)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Salem to nearby cities

SALEM VS
Clarksburg
Income$47,386+18%
Home value$129,900+130%
Population15,562+891%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Bridgeport
Income$100,022+149%
Home value$291,600+417%
Population9,427+500%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Fairmont
Income$63,032+57%
Home value$163,800+190%
Population18,035+1049%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALEM VS
Morgantown
Income$44,727+11%
Home value$259,400+360%
Population30,293+1829%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salem, West Virginia?

Salem, West Virginia has about 1,529 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Salem, West Virginia earns about $40,114 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 $56,400, and the typical rent is about $576 a month.

How educated are people in Salem, West Virginia?

About 20.7% 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 18.4% 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 534 residents, a change of about -26 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 →