United States › Virginia › Salem city COUNTY · 2010 ACS
Salem Virginia · 24,802 residents · 14.5 sq mi
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The short version
Salem is a county of 24,802 people in Virginia. At a median age of 40.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The foreign-born share is 5%. Households here earn about 20% less than in Virginia as a whole. The average commute runs 18 minutes. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $165,700.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 40.5
US median: 37.2
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth 24,802
Unchangedsince 2000
from 24,747 in 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K 24K 25K 25K 26K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Salem Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $48,828
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,997 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $20,091 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Transportation & warehousing 3.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Education & health services 0.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$165,700
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$710
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $550 in 2000
US average: $853
from 67.6% in 2000
34.1% rent
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 3.3 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.3%(22,594)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(205)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 87.3%(21,653)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(601)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 82.0% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 39.6%(4,037)
Women 15+
Never married 33.2%(3,790)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 10.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 9.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 79.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 28.3% 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) 16.4%(239)
Gulf War (1990s) 26.9%(393)
Share of the 1,459 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
Places similar to Salem Head to head
Compare Salem to nearby counties SALEM VS
Roanoke
Income $55,378 +13%
Home value $190,500 +15%
Population 99,111 +284%
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SALEM VS
Roanoke County
Income $83,709 +71%
Home value $286,000 +73%
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SALEM VS
Craig County
Income $69,057 +41%
Home value $189,000 +14%
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SALEM VS
Montgomery County
Income $72,715 +49%
Home value $304,600 +84%
Population 98,434 +281%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Salem, Virginia? Salem, Virginia has about 24,802 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Salem, Virginia? The typical household in Salem, Virginia earns about $48,828 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Salem, Virginia expensive? In Salem, Virginia, the median home is worth about $165,700, and the typical rent is about $710 a month.
How educated are people in Salem, Virginia? About 29.1% of adults age 25 and over in Salem, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Salem, Virginia? About 8.8% of people in Salem, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Salem, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Salem, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,046 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.
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