The Town FilesSalem, Kentucky
City in Livingston County · population 722 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,400
- Household income
- $61,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 45.3
Salem is a city of 722 people in Livingston County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $102,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of Kentucky towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $102,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $61,667, which is more affordable than 94% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 83.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $678 | $837 |
| Median household income | $61,667 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 83.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 25.7°F. About 49.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 3, 2000 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on January 12, 2023.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 3,402 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,759 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Salem
- Marion, KY9.9 mi · 2,916 people · home $97,300
- Rosiclare, IL12.7 mi · 980 people · home $60,900
- Golconda, IL15.1 mi · 630 people · home $69,300
- Kuttawa, KY15.7 mi · 629 people · home $292,200
- Eddyville, KY15.8 mi · 2,375 people · home $188,400
- Calvert City, KY17.3 mi · 2,514 people · home $165,700
- Ledbetter, KY20.3 mi · 1,836 people · home $120,800
- Princeton, KY22.5 mi · 6,270 people · home $96,600
Salem questions
Is Salem, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 58% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 62%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $102,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,667, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 25.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 3, 2000. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)