The Town FilesSalem, Michigan
Township in Allegan County · population 5,156 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $307,500
- Household income
- $89,034
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 84 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 40.4
Salem is a township of 5,156 people in Allegan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $307,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 98% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 96% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 74% of Michigan towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $307,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $89,034, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. 94.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $307,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $89,034 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.7% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 15 deaths and 228 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on October 23, 1955.
Severe weather in Allegan County since 1996
Allegan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegan County
Allegan County had 41,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,226 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near Salem
- Overisel, MI5.2 mi · 3,133 people · home $344,300
- Jamestown, MI6.0 mi · 9,630 people · home $445,400
- Dorr, MI6.5 mi · 7,922 people · home $290,100
- Dorr, MI6.8 mi · 3,520 people · home $277,600
- Heath, MI6.9 mi · 3,937 people · home $332,400
- Zeeland, MI8.4 mi · 12,008 people · home $357,500
- Byron Center, MI8.9 mi · 7,431 people · home $384,400
- Byron, MI9.1 mi · 26,927 people · home $339,700
Salem questions
Is Salem, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 13% of Michigan towns and quieter than 65%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $307,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,034, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 84.4 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)