Population 9,116 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Salem
Household size in Salem
| Period | Salem | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.64 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.65 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.57 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Salem are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.47, 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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.1 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 39.3 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.9 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.9 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Salem is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 40.1, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 12.2% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 11.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Salem than nationally: 13.6%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Salem has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five New Jersey 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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2% | 30.2% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.0% | 32.1% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.6% | 32.7% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.0% | 33.2% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +3.0 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Salem than nationally: 48.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 54.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 9.2% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 17.0% of the housing in Salem, 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. Vacancy has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, 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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1964 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1965 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1965 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1968 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Salem is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1949, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have older homes.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $804 | $1,049 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $907 | $1,147 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $954 | $1,281 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,157 | $1,631 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$353 | +$582 | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Salem costs $1,157 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $353 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 38.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southwest.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 32.7% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 34.4% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 37.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 42.3% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +9.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Salem: 17.7% 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 6.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only ten of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 87.5% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 88.9% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.1% | 90.5% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.9% | 91.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +4.4 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Salem never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.2 points, as it has nationally. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 39 have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 | Philadelphia area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 8.4% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 10.2% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 6.3% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 6.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −12.5 pts | −2.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Salem: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 12.5 points from 2006–10, 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 | 2.36 | 40.7 | 13.6% | 48.0% | 17.0% | 1949 | $1,157 | 17.7% | 85.9% | 8.2% |
| Quinton | 2.47 | 44.5 | 8.1% | 23.1% | 3.8% | 1959 | $1,303 | 23.7% | 95.1% | 4.9% |
| Penton | 2.81 | 46.9 | 9.8% | 20.4% | 14.1% | 1952 | $1,290 | 22.2% | 92.0% | 5.6% |
| Hancocks Bridge | 2.37 | 39.4 | 9.4% | 27.1% | 3.5% | 1944 | $1,679 | 21.0% | 95.7% | 5.5% |
| Sinnickson Landing | 2.58 | 48.9 | 6.3% | 13.6% | 12.2% | 1966 | $1,308 | 26.4% | 94.7% | 15.1% |
| Pointers | 3.17 | 47.0 | 10.8% | 15.1% | 22.8% | 1951 | $1,242 | 21.8% | 87.9% | 5.4% |
| Fort Elfsborg | 2.42 | 51.6 | 8.1% | 11.8% | 20.6% | 1957 | $1,531 | 20.2% | 95.5% | 5.1% |
| Woodmere | 2.48 | 45.5 | 6.7% | 22.4% | 3.0% | 1963 | $1,244 | 23.3% | 94.8% | 4.5% |
| Mahoneyville | 2.41 | 41.3 | 9.5% | 32.2% | 6.8% | 1963 | $1,320 | 16.1% | 96.8% | 12.1% |
| Alloway | 2.56 | 43.6 | 5.1% | 14.1% | 7.7% | 1970 | $810 | 28.6% | 97.8% | 1.3% |
| Marshalltown | 3.25 | 41.7 | 9.4% | 11.4% | 19.0% | 1962 | $1,154 | 24.0% | 85.5% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Seven Points, TX · Sandy Hook, CT · Sans Souci, SC · Santa Clara, UT · Satsuma, AL · Sauk Village, IL · Savoy, IL · Sayre, PA · Scotchtown, NY · Seaside, OR
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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