The Town FilesWest Salem, Illinois
Village in Edwards County · population 786 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,600
- Household income
- $49,821
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.1
West Salem is a village of 786 people in Edwards County, Illinois. The median home is worth $74,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Illinois towns, quieter than 94% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Illinois towns.
How West Salem ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Salem is worth $74,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $49,821, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $811 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Salem | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $811 | $960 |
| Median household income | $49,821 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in West Salem
| People | West Salem | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in West Salem
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Salem since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 17, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Edwards County since 1996
Edwards County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 1, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Edwards County
Edwards County had 1,933 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in West Salem itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in West Salem
1 public school with 178 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Salem Grade School | PK-8 | 178 | 13.7 |
Towns near West Salem
- Albion, IL10.3 mi · 1,971 people · home $93,800
- Mount Carmel, IL14.7 mi · 7,015 people · home $89,300
- Olney, IL14.9 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- Sumner, IL15.5 mi · 2,631 people · home $46,000
- Noble, IL16.7 mi · 633 people · home $58,500
- Grayville, IL18.3 mi · 1,550 people · home $74,200
- Bridgeport, IL18.8 mi · 1,800 people · home $72,100
- St. Francisville, IL20.2 mi · 568 people · home $63,900
West Salem questions
Is West Salem, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Salem scores better for retirees than 78% of Illinois towns and quieter than 94%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in West Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in West Salem is valued at $74,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,821, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $811 a month.
What is the weather like in West Salem?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 10.4 inches of snow.
Does West Salem get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)