Population 21,862 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Salem
Household size in Salem
| Period | Salem | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Salem is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.42 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.5 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Salem skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Salem (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over three in ten households in Salem rent their homes (31.0%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 45.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.0 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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Salem than nationally: 11.5%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Salem is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $551 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $626 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $688 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $819 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$269 | +$377 | +$606 |
The median renter in Salem pays $819 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $269 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the south.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Salem: 20.7% 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 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.7% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.7% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.2% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Salem is close to the national rate: 89.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Ohio overall (91.7%). Salem has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Ohio cities.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Salem: 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 31.0% | 11.5% | 1964 | $819 | 20.7% | 89.2% | 6.3% |
| Salem Heights | 2.24 | 39.8 | 5.7% | 16.3% | 9.9% | 1971 | $892 | 18.6% | 93.4% | 3.1% |
| Winona | 2.53 | 44.7 | 5.3% | 12.6% | 14.5% | 1974 | $957 | 21.3% | 91.6% | 3.6% |
| Washingtonville | 2.24 | 45.4 | 11.7% | 25.6% | 10.9% | 1966 | $785 | 17.4% | 91.3% | 4.0% |
| Damascus | 2.45 | 41.1 | 6.7% | 9.1% | 8.2% | 1974 | $938 | 15.6% | 95.0% | 5.1% |
| Patmos | 2.55 | 47.6 | 5.7% | 3.6% | 5.9% | 1975 | $816 | 18.2% | 92.5% | 8.7% |
| Locust Grove | 2.75 | 49.7 | 1.8% | 10.4% | 2.2% | 1968 | $738 | 25.9% | 96.1% | 0.0% |
| Leetonia | 2.49 | 45.2 | 6.7% | 14.9% | 7.2% | 1967 | $843 | 17.8% | 90.6% | 4.7% |
| Beloit | 2.57 | 44.3 | 4.4% | 12.6% | 10.5% | 1964 | $758 | 15.8% | 95.4% | 4.2% |
| North Georgetown | 2.59 | 46.6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 8.6% | 1975 | $859 | 22.5% | 96.4% | 2.8% |
| Marquis | 2.29 | 47.6 | 2.3% | 3.5% | 5.9% | 1998 | $844 | 49.2% | 95.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Oroville, CA · Petal, MS · Perry, GA · Penfield, NY · Pelham, AL · Payson, UT · Panama City Beach, FL · Palmetto Bay, FL · Ottawa, IL · Pleasantville, NJ
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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