Salem, VA

Census Place

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2023 Population

25,477

0.414% 1-year growth

US Senator

Mark Warner

Democratic Party

US Senator

Tim Kaine

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

40.3

1.23% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

10.9%

12.9% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$66,716

2.46% 1-year decline

2023 Median Property Value

$244,800

5.56% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

12,440

0.344% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Salem, VA had a population of 25.5k people with a median age of 40.3 and a median household income of $66,716. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Salem, VA grew from 25,372 to 25,477, a 0.414% increase and its median household income declined from $68,402 to $66,716, a −2.46% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Salem, VA are White (Non-Hispanic) (82.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (7.68%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.39%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.94%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (1.64%).

None of the households in Salem, VA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.4% of the residents in Salem, VA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Salem, VA are Roanoke College (233426) (477 degrees awarded in 2022) and American National University (256 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Salem, VA was $244,800, and the homeownership rate was 63.5%.

Most people in Salem, VA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Salem, VA was 2 cars per household.

United States Virginia Salem city, VA Roanoke, VA Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (Outside Roanoke & Salem Cities) PUMA, VA Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (Roanoke, Salem Cities & Vinton Town) PUMA, VA

Population & Diversity

Salem, VA is home to a population of 25.5k people, from which 97.4% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.24% of Salem, VA residents were born outside of the country (1.08k people).

In 2023, there were 10.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (21k people) in Salem, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.96k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 609 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.4%

2023 Citizenship

97.6%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.4% of Salem, VA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Salem, VA was 97.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Salem, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Salem, VA

White (Non-Hispanic)
21k ± 146
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.96k ± 228
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
609 ± 231

4.47%

Hispanic Population

1.14k people

4.47% of the people in Salem, VA are hispanic (1.14k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Salem, VA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Virginia.

Most Common Origin

El Salvador
107,605 ± 8,003 people
India
98,735 ± 7,670 people
Mexico
59,855 ± 5,986 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Virginia was El Salvador, the natal country of 107,605 Virginia residents, followed by India with 98,735 and Mexico with 59,855.

Foreign-Born Population

4.24%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.08k people

4.13%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

1.05k people

As of 2023, 4.24% of Salem, VA residents (1.08k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Salem, VA was 4.13%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Salem, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
375 ± 116
Gulf War (1990s)
340 ± 143
Gulf War (2001-)
228 ± 94

Salem, VA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.1 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Salem, VA employs 12.4k people. The largest industries in Salem, VA are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,578 people), Retail Trade (1,481 people), and Educational Services (1,472 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($141,250), Public Administration ($67,143), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($63,500).

Males in Virginia have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $69,674. The income inequality in Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.475, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

12.4k

2023 Value

± 833

−0.344%

1 Year decline

± 9.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Salem, VA declined at a rate of −0.344%, from 12.5k employees to 12.4k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Salem, VA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,675 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,353 people), and Management Occupations (1,100 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Salem, VA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

12.4k

2023 Value

± 833

−0.344%

1 Year decline

± 9.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Salem, VA declined at a rate of −0.344%, from 12.5k employees to 12.4k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Salem, VA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,578 people), Retail Trade (1,481 people), and Educational Services (1,472 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Salem, VA, though some of these residents may live in Salem, VA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$47,696

Median earning men ± $7,216

$37,424

Median earning women ± $3,332

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($67,868), Manufacturing ($65,426), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($60,025).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Construction ($90,515), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($54,583), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($50,606).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Y-Axis

2.48%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.1M people employed in Virginia. This represents a 2.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Virginia.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing the state of Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Salem, VA. Showing the available data for Virginia.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (51.8%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.1%)
Republican Party
Other (0.905%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Mark Warner

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Tim Kaine

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Virginia

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Salem, VA awarded 733 degrees. The student population of Salem, VA in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,051 male students and 1,888 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Salem, VA are White (476 and 65.7%), followed by Black or African American (87 and 12%), Unknown (55 and 7.6%), and Two or More Races (41 and 5.66%).

The largest universities in Salem, VA by number of degrees awarded are Roanoke College (233426) (477 and 65.1%) and American National University (256 and 34.9%).

The most popular majors in Salem, VA are General Business Administration & Management (75 and 10.2%), General Psychology (49 and 6.68%), and Medical Insurance Coding Specialist (49 and 6.68%).

The median tuition cost in Salem, VA for private four year colleges is $33,510.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Salem, VA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 79.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 12.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 2,939 (35.8% men and 64.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 2,939 students enrolled in Salem, VA, 35.8% men and 64.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,891 records, of which 61.6% were women and 38.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
75 degrees awarded
General Psychology
49 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
35 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Salem, VA was General Business Administration & Management with 75 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Salem, VA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Roanoke College (233426)
477 degrees awarded
American National University
256 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Roanoke College (233426) with 477 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 233 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Salem, VA, which is 0.466 times less than the 500 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 476 degrees mean that there were 5.47 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 87 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($33,510) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,690) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,000) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Measure

In 2022, 0.884% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.904% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.71M), Bachelors Degree (1.47M), and Some college (1.4M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Salem, VA was $244,800 in 2023, which is 0.807 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $231,900 to $244,800, a 5.56% increase. The homeownership rate in Salem, VA is 63.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Salem, VA have an average commute time of 18.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Salem, VA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Salem, VA is $66,716. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in Salem, VA was Census Tract 102 with a value of $89,522, followed by Census Tract 101 and Census Tract 105.02, with respective values of $70,500 and $64,239.

Housing

Property

$244,800

Median Property Value 2023

±$11,222

$6,441

Median Property Taxes

±$534

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Salem, VA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $2k - $3k range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Salem, VA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

63.5%

Homeownership

2023

69.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 63.5% of the housing units in Salem, VA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 64%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Salem, VA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 102
Census Tract 101
Census Tract 105.02

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Salem, VA was Census Tract 102 with a value of $89,522, followed by Census Tract 101 and Census Tract 105.02, with respective values of $70,500 and $64,239.

The following map shows all of the places in Salem, VA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$66,716

Median Household Income

± $5,519

10.1k

Number of Households

± 724

In 2023, the median household income of the 10.1k households in Salem, VA declined from $66,716 from the previous year's value of $68,402.

The following chart displays the households in Salem, VA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Salem, VA is from Virginia.

0.475

2022 Wage GINI in Virginia

0.476

2021 Wage GINI in Virginia

In 2022, the income inequality in Virginia was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.164% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (76.8%)
Worked At Home (9.54%)
Carpooled (7.06%)

In 2023, 76.8% of workers in Salem, VA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (9.54%) and those who carpooled to work (7.06%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Salem, VA have a shorter commute time (18.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.57% of the workforce in Salem, VA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Salem, VA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Salem, VA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Salem, VA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

10.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Salem, VA (2.5k out of 23k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 12 - 14.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Salem, VA is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94.5% of the population of Salem, VA has health coverage, with 52.9% on employee plans, 13.3% on Medicaid, 14.2% on Medicare, 11.8% on non-group plans, and 2.4% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Salem city, VA see 768 patients per year on average, which represents a 18% decrease from the previous year (937 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 746 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 118 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Salem city, VA.

768 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Salem city, VA

Primary care physicians in Salem city, VA see an average of 768 patients per year. This represents a 18% decrease from the previous year (937 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Salem city, VA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.7% under 18 years, 22.9% between 18 and 34 years, 37.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 18% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.2% were men and 53.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.45%

Uninsured

52.9%

Employer Coverage

13.3%

Medicaid

14.2%

Medicare

11.8%

Non-Group

2.4%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Salem, VA declined by 10.5% from 6.09% to 5.45%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Salem, VA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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