Population 8,476 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Salem
Household size in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Salem sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Alabama overall, where it has 2.56 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.77, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.0 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Salem skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 36.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Salem: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Salem has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Alabama cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Salem
Renters in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Salem is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 10.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 50.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Salem: 15.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 4.4 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
Salem has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1997, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Salem has newer homes than the great majority of Alabama cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $633 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $742 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $930 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,010 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$377 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Salem costs $1,010 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $377 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 21.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Salem
Bachelor's degrees in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.0% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.9% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Salem: 24.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.0% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.6% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Salem have finished high school as nationally: 88.5%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Salem
| Period | Salem | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.8 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Salem has been low: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 9.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Salem compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | 2.64 | 43.2 | 7.5% | 10.9% | 15.2% | 1997 | $1,010 | 24.9% | 88.5% | 2.5% |
| Powledge | 2.57 | 44.8 | 2.6% | 7.4% | 14.0% | 1992 | $1,046 | 21.4% | 83.8% | 1.7% |
| Smiths | 2.77 | 40.4 | 8.7% | 20.4% | 7.8% | 2000 | $1,056 | 31.3% | 87.8% | 4.2% |
| Smiths Station | 2.81 | 41.6 | 12.1% | 21.9% | 9.7% | 1995 | $900 | 22.3% | 87.4% | 3.7% |
| Roanoke Junction | 3.52 | 39.5 | 11.6% | 17.1% | 20.9% | 1989 | $839 | 16.1% | 84.9% | 12.5% |
| Phenix City | 2.54 | 38.0 | 14.3% | 37.8% | 11.2% | 1988 | $1,101 | 21.6% | 89.4% | 4.9% |
| Piney Grove | 2.40 | 48.6 | 5.2% | 7.1% | 16.6% | 1994 | $1,603 | 45.7% | 95.2% | 1.8% |
| Opelika | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.6% | 28.9% | 10.8% | 1992 | $997 | 34.0% | 88.4% | 4.2% |
| Fortson | 2.64 | 38.1 | 11.6% | 21.0% | 6.3% | 2004 | $1,641 | 48.1% | 95.3% | 2.9% |
| Highland Pines | 3.00 | 35.4 | 13.1% | 1.4% | 9.1% | 2001 | $1,569 | 48.4% | 96.8% | 0.6% |
| Mountain Hill | 2.80 | 44.4 | 7.7% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 1995 | $1,364 | 40.7% | 92.6% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Woodfield, SC · Lake Park, GA · Lakes, AK · Lamar, CO · Lambertville, NJ · Landrum, SC · Lanoka Harbor, NJ · Lansdowne, MD · Laughlin, NV · Laurel, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Salem. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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