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Neighborhood report

Salem, VA

Founded 1802Elev. 1,075 m
Population
25,477
Median home
$244,800
Disaster risk
Very Low
Public schools
15
Sex offenders
10

Overview

About Salem

Salem is a city in Virginia with about 25,477 residents. Salem was founded in 1802. The median age is 40.3 and the median household income is $66,716. Homes carry a median value of $244,800, and about 64% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (82.4%). Around 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 19 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
25,477
Median age
40.3
Median household income
$66,716
Per-capita income
$38,127
Poverty rate
10.9%
High-school grad or higher
94.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
31.1%
Unemployment
3.4%
Avg. commute
18.7 min
Work from home
9.5%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White82.4%
Hispanic or Latino4.5%
Black7.7%
Asian1.9%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts39.8%
Sales & office24.3%
Service17.8%
Production, transportation & material moving11.5%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance6.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$244,800
Median gross rent
$1,046/mo
Owner-occupied
63.5%
Median year built
1971
Households
10,140
Avg. household size
2.27

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Above average

Salem has 15 public schools — 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 2 schools
Reading80%
Math86%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

GLENVAR HIGHHighGrades 9–12
SALEM HIGHHighGrades 9–12
ANDREW LEWIS MIDDLEMiddleGrades 6–8
GLENVAR MIDDLEMiddleGrades 6–8
East Salem ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
Fort Lewis ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
G.W. Carver ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
Glenvar ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
Mason's Cove ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
South Salem ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–5
West Salem ElementaryElementary
Burton Center for Arts and TechnologyGrades -2–-2
Governor's STEM Academy at the Burton Center for Arts and TeGrades -2–-2
Salem AlternativeGrades -2–-2

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime77% below national
Salem90
Virginia243
United States386
↑ 10% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime5% below national
Salem1,859
Virginia1,686
United States1,952
↓ 15% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Salem Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Salem.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Very Low
Top hazards · Salem County
LightningRelatively Low
Riverine floodingRelatively Low
Strong windRelatively Low
Winter weatherRelatively Low
Cold waveVery Low
EarthquakeVery Low

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Salem is in Salem County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Salem was founded in 1802. Elevation ~1,075 m.

Population trend
26K25K25,47720102024
Map of Salem
Salem, VA
Where Salem is
Virginia BeachChesapeakeNorfolkRichmondNewport NewsAlexandriaSalem
Historic places

19 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Belle AireWilliams-Brown House and StoreAcademy Street SchoolOld Roanoke County CourthouseSalem Presbyterian ChurchMain Campus Complex, Roanoke CollegeBeaver, John, HouseSalem Presbyterian Parsonage
Notable people from Salem
Theophilus PainterLeander J. Shaw, Jr.David Carey ShanksRuth Painter RandallShanna YoungMark ByingtonAlex LightNat Reese
People searches in Salem
Michael Smith (4)John Smith (3)James Smith (3)David Smith (3)Robert Smith (3)Michael Johnson (3)John Johnson (3)James Johnson (3)Michael Williams (3)William Smith (3)David Johnson (2)Robert Johnson (2)John Williams (2)Michael Brown (2)Michael Jones (2)James Williams (2)David Williams (2)John Brown (2)Robert Williams (2)John Jones (2)William Johnson (2)Mary Smith (2)James Brown (2)James Jones (2)
Nearby cities
Roanoke (5 mi)Blacksburg (21 mi)Christiansburg (22 mi)Radford (30 mi)Pulaski (42 mi)Martinsville (43 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Salem, VA (10)

Public sex-offender registry records for Salem, Virginia.

George Edward Smith, 43ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA George Smith, George E Smith
Charles Edward Hall Iii, 62ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA Chuckie Hall, Chuck Hall
Anthony James Brown, 70
Salem · 24153
AKA Anthony J Brown
Anthony James Brown, 70
Salem · Craven County · 24153
AKA Tony Brown
Daniel Lee Hall, 43ABSCONDER
Salem · Roanoke County County · 24153
AKA Daniel Hall, D Hall
Jose Francisco Rivera, 36ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA Jose F Rivera
David J Hall, 72ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA David Julius Hall, Shorty Hall
David Wilburn Smith, 67ABSCONDER
Salem · Roanoke County County · 24153
AKA David Smith, David W Smith
Robert L Moore Jr, 71ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA Bob Moore, Robert Lee Moore
James Fitzgerald West, 40ABSCONDER
Salem · Salem City County · 24153
AKA James Robinson, James Simenton

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Salem — frequently asked

What is the population of Salem, Virginia?
Salem has a population of about 25,477, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Salem?
The median home value in Salem is $244,800, and the median gross rent is $1,046/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Salem safe? What is the crime rate?
Salem Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 90 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Salem face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Salem County as "Very Low" overall, with top hazards including lightning, riverine flooding, strong wind.
How many schools are in Salem?
Salem has 15 public schools (7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Salem?
Public registry data lists 10 registered sex offenders in or near Salem. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Salem →