The Town FilesSalem, Arkansas
Community in Saline County · population 2,544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,100
- Household income
- $73,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 53.8
Salem is a community of 2,544 people in Saline County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $202,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Arkansas towns, better for families than 85% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 82% 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 $202,100, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $73,750, which is more affordable than 51% of Arkansas towns. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,100 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | — | $792 |
| Median household income | $73,750 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.7% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 9.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 84.4% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 239 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 147 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on January 7, 1978.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 27,501 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,454 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Salem
- Benton, AR3.7 mi · 35,014 people · home $212,700
- Bryant, AR4.1 mi · 20,663 people · home $223,200
- Alexander, AR6.3 mi · 3,385 people · home $174,000
- Shannon Hills, AR9.1 mi · 4,490 people · home $170,900
- Haskell, AR9.6 mi · 3,956 people · home $160,600
- Little Rock, AR13.3 mi · 202,591 people · home $236,400
- Landmark, AR14.0 mi · 3,585 people · home $156,600
- East End, AR14.3 mi · 7,137 people · home $223,900
Salem questions
Is Salem, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 76% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 31%. 28.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.8).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $202,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,750, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)