The Town FilesSalem, Michigan
Township in Washtenaw County · population 7,018 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $430,400
- Household income
- $112,378
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 41.7
Salem is a township of 7,018 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $430,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Michigan towns, better for families than 93% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 88% 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 $430,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $112,378, which is more affordable than 11% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,740 a month. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $430,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,740 | $955 |
| Median household income | $112,378 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 4, 2017.
Severe weather in Washtenaw County since 1996
Washtenaw County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County had 217,948 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Salem
- South Lyon, MI5.5 mi · 11,746 people · home $294,600
- Plymouth, MI5.8 mi · 27,938 people · home $400,800
- Superior, MI6.0 mi · 14,832 people · home $305,800
- Northfield, MI6.2 mi · 8,550 people · home $315,400
- Ann Arbor, MI6.3 mi · 4,673 people · home $659,400
- Northville, MI6.3 mi · 31,758 people · home $551,800
- Lyon, MI6.5 mi · 23,271 people · home $473,300
- Northville, MI6.8 mi · 6,119 people · home $465,400
Salem questions
Is Salem, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 58% of Michigan towns and quieter than 27%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $430,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,378, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,740 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 61.4 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. 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)