Population 6,059 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Salem
Household size in Salem
| Period | Salem | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.10 | 2.58 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.01 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Salem are small: just 2.22 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 edged down from 2.31, mirroring the country. Only 16 of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.8 | 38.1 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 58.3 | 39.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 57.8 | 39.6 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 60.8 | 39.7 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +1.6 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 60.8, Salem is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 55.8, in line with the national trend. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only two are older.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 11.5% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.6% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 10.7% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Salem: 3.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 8.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 30.0% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 31.5% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 31.4% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 29.3% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −14.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 4.9% of households in Salem rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (53.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 14.1 points, even as the national share rose. No other South Carolina city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of renters.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 12.2% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 12.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 10.8% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 9.6% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.7% 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 fallen 3.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1982 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1985 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1989 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Salem is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The picture is much the same across the Greenville area. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $899 | $733 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $892 | $816 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,290 | $939 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $915 | $1,216 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$17 | +$483 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Salem costs $915 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 38.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 26.8% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.3% | 27.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.6% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.5% | 35.6% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.7 pts | +8.8 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Salem is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (48.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 14.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a higher 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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 82.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.1% | 84.9% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 86.7% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 89.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just as many adults in Salem have finished high school as nationally: 89.3%. The share with a diploma is little changed from 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
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 | Greenville area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.0 pts | −4.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Salem has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 10.0 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 | 2.22 | 60.8 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 23.7% | 1991 | $915 | 48.5% | 89.3% | 3.2% |
| Tamassee | 2.34 | 50.2 | 7.6% | 11.8% | 33.4% | 1992 | $958 | 21.1% | 88.2% | 6.2% |
| Six Mile | 2.38 | 48.0 | 5.4% | 9.1% | 26.9% | 1996 | $838 | 33.0% | 89.6% | 2.2% |
| West Union | 2.39 | 46.1 | 8.1% | 17.0% | 14.3% | 1992 | $881 | 31.2% | 87.9% | 4.5% |
| Sunset | 2.27 | 53.6 | 3.5% | 4.7% | 35.3% | 2000 | $1,022 | 42.2% | 94.9% | 4.3% |
| Nine Times | 2.33 | 39.6 | 5.4% | 8.1% | 20.6% | 1990 | $1,033 | 23.3% | 92.9% | 2.1% |
| Newry | 2.03 | 55.0 | 2.2% | 19.2% | 15.6% | 1998 | $944 | 57.0% | 94.4% | 3.3% |
| Walhalla | 2.53 | 44.1 | 11.3% | 26.6% | 13.7% | 1982 | $1,022 | 21.5% | 83.2% | 6.6% |
| Nimmons | 2.44 | 54.4 | 1.9% | 0.0% | 43.8% | 2001 | $1,115 | 37.3% | 96.7% | 8.2% |
| Mountain Rest | 2.41 | 48.2 | 19.2% | 18.4% | 33.8% | 1986 | $752 | 36.6% | 95.2% | 9.8% |
| Central | 2.41 | 33.6 | 9.1% | 42.3% | 10.9% | 1989 | $851 | 42.5% | 92.8% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lyons, NY · Red Bud, IL · Raymond, WA · Rainier, OR · Quitman, TX · Quantico Base, VA · Purchase, NY · Pulaski, NY · Pryor Creek, OK · Providence Forge, VA
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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