Salem, WV

Census Place

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2024 Population
1,629
US Senator
Shelley Moore Capito
Republican Party
US Senator
Jim Justice
Republican Party
2024 Median Age
32.6
0.617% 1-year increase
2024 Poverty Rate
16.8%
0.927% 1-year increase
2024 Median Household Income
$38,529
11.8% 1-year decline
2024 Median Property Value
$77,800
0.777% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
637
21.3% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Salem, WV 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.

97.5% of the residents in Salem, WV are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Salem, WV are Salem University (266 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Salem, WV was $77,800, and the homeownership rate was 69.7%.

Most people in Salem, WV drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21 minutes. The average car ownership in Salem, WV was 3 cars per household.

United StatesWest VirginiaHarrison County, WVClarksburg, WVHarrison, Randolph, Upshur, Lewis, Taylor, Barbour Counties PUMA, WV

Population & Diversity

Salem, WV is home to a population of 1.63k people, from which 97.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.52% of Salem, WV residents were born outside of the country (41 people).

In 2024, there were 31.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (1.51k people) in Salem, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 48 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 28 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.5%
2024 Citizenship
97.3%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.5% of Salem, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Salem, WV was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Salem, WV
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    1.51k ± 349
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    48 ± 27
  3. White (Hispanic)
    28 ± 30
2.33%
Hispanic Population
38 people

In 2024, there were 31.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (1.51k people) in Salem, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 48 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 28 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

2.33% of the people in Salem, WV are hispanic (38 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Salem, WV as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.
Most Common Origin
  1. India
    2,277 ± 1,171 people
  2. Mexico
    2,211 ± 1,154 people
  3. Germany
    1,987 ± 1,094 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was India, the natal country of 2,277 West Virginia residents, followed by Mexico with 2,211 and Germany with 1,987.

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Foreign-Born Population

2.52%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
41 people
2.7%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
49 people

As of 2024, 2.52% of Salem, WV residents (41 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Salem, WV was 2.7%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Gulf War (2001-)
    29 ± 26
  2. Vietnam
    20 ± 23
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    4 ± 14

Salem, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.45 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Salem, WV.

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Economy

The economy of Salem, WV employs 637 people. In 2024, the largest industries in Salem, WV were Educational Services (207 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (117 people), and Retail Trade (112 people), and the highest paying industries were Manufacturing ($63,125), Utilities ($53,333), and Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services ($50,417).

Employment

Occupations

637
2024 Value
± 202
−21.3%
1 Year decline
± 52.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Salem, WV declined at a rate of −21.3%, from 809 employees to 637 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Salem, WV, are Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occupations (133 people), Sales & Related Occupations (74 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (52 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Salem, WV.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in West 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

637
2024 Value
± 202
−21.3%
1 Year decline
± 52.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Salem, WV declined at a rate of −21.3%, from 809 employees to 637 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Salem, WV, are Educational Services (207 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (117 people), and Retail Trade (112 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Salem, WV, though some of these residents may live in Salem, WV and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$21,635
Median earning men ± $18,050
$19,057
Median earning women ± $2,780

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Manufacturing ($51,667), Public Administration ($51,250), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($42,188).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($72,708), Public Administration ($37,125), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($30,000).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.
Y-Axis
0.583%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 690k people employed in West Virginia. This represents a 0.583% 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 15%.

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

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Education

In 2023, universities in Salem, WV awarded 266 degrees. The student population of Salem, WV in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 385 male students and 509 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Salem, WV are White (134 and 64.7%), Black or African American (29 and 14%), Unknown (25 and 12.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (11 and 5.31%).

The largest universities in Salem, WV by number of degrees awarded are Salem University (266 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Salem, WV are General Business Administration & Management (135 and 50.8%), General Educational Leadership & Administration (43 and 16.2%), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (22 and 8.27%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 894 students enrolled in Salem, WV, 43.1% men and 56.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 488 records, of which 64.5% were women and 35.5% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. General Educational Leadership & Administration
    19 degrees awarded
  2. Curriculum & Instruction
    9 degrees awarded
  3. General Business Administration & Management
    58 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Masters Degree recipients in Salem, WV was General Educational Leadership & Administration with 19 degrees awarded.

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

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Universities

Gender
Race
Salem University
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
266 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Salem University with 266 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

In 2023, 130 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Salem, WV, which is 0.956 times less than the 136 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 134 degrees mean that there were 4.62 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 29 degrees awarded.

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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.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($10,200) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($550) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private 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.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Salem, WV was $77,800 in 2024, which is 0.234 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $77,200 to $77,800, a 0.777% increase. The homeownership rate in Salem, WV is 69.7%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Salem, WV have an average commute time of 21 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Salem, WV is higher than the national average, with an average of 3 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$77,800
Median Property Value 2024
±$16,486
$403
Median Property Taxes
±$116

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, WV the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

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Rent vs Own

69.7%
Homeownership
2024
54.5%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 69.7% of the housing units in Salem, WV were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 71.2%.

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

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$38,529
Median Household Income
± $14,698
578
Number of Households
± 136

In 2024, the median household income of the 578 households in Salem, WV declined from $38,529 from the previous year's value of $43,690.

The following chart displays the households in Salem, WV 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 $20k - $25k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Salem, WV is from West Virginia.
0.443
2023 Wage GINI in West Virginia
0.449
2022 Wage GINI in West Virginia

In 2023, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.443 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.39% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in West Virginia in comparison to the national average.

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

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (79.4%)
  2. Walked (11.3%)
  3. Carpooled (5.49%)

In 2024, 79.4% of workers in Salem, WV drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (11.3%) and those who carpooled to work (5.49%).

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.

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Commute Time

21 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Salem, WV have a shorter commute time (21 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.4% of the workforce in Salem, WV have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

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Car Ownership

3 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Salem, WV distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Salem, WV have 3 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

16.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Salem, WV (226 out of 1.35k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Males 55 - 64.

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

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.

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Health

84.6% of the population of Salem, WV has health coverage, with 37.7% on employee plans, 23.3% on Medicaid, 14.4% on Medicare, 7.95% on non-group plans, and 1.23% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in West Virginia see 1,319 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,319 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1705 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 506 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 57% were men and 43% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 19% under 18 years, 33.1% between 18 and 34 years, 31.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 57% were men and 43% were women.

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

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Uninsured People

15.4%
Uninsured
37.7%
Employer Coverage
23.3%
Medicaid
14.4%
Medicare
7.95%
Non-Group
1.23%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Salem, WV declined by 12.1% from 17.5% to 15.4%.

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

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