The Town FilesSalem, Arkansas
City in Fulton County · population 1,566 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,900
- Household income
- $40,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.3
Salem is a city of 1,566 people in Fulton County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $105,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks quieter than 93% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 92% of Arkansas towns, hipper than 88% of Arkansas towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $105,900, below the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $40,833, which is more affordable than 56% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $676 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $676 | $792 |
| Median household income | $40,833 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 84.4% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 24, 2001 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 12, 1967.
Severe weather in Fulton County since 1996
Fulton County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Fulton County
Fulton County had 1,775 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,242 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Salem
2 public schools with 851 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 435 | 16.1 |
| SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 416 | 6.6 |
Towns near Salem
- Horseshoe Bend, AR11.5 mi · 2,440 people · home $128,500
- Oxford, AR12.4 mi · 573 people · home $97,100
- Cherokee Village, AR15.1 mi · 4,780 people · home $94,600
- Ash Flat, AR15.1 mi · 1,137 people · home $94,000
- Mammoth Spring, AR17.7 mi · 929 people · home $103,000
- Highland, AR18.2 mi · 982 people · home $104,400
- Thayer, MO18.8 mi · 1,883 people · home $67,500
- Hardy, AR19.3 mi · 743 people · home $58,600
Salem questions
Is Salem, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 92% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 93%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $105,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,833, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $676 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 24, 2001. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)