The Town FilesSalem, Minnesota
Township in Olmsted County · population 1,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $417,100
- Household income
- $102,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 49.0
Salem is a township of 1,094 people in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $417,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 92% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 91% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 86% of Minnesota towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $417,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $102,143, which is more affordable than 20% of Minnesota towns. 96.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $417,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $102,143 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 96.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 25.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 16, 1962 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 142 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 2019.
Severe weather in Olmsted County since 1996
Olmsted County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2010 | Tornado | DR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Olmsted County
Olmsted County had 103,905 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,579 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Salem
- Rochester, MN3.9 mi · 2,088 people · home $724,200
- Byron, MN4.5 mi · 6,312 people · home $345,300
- Rock Dell, MN5.9 mi · 681 people · home $501,300
- Kalmar, MN6.3 mi · 1,117 people · home $469,300
- Canisteo, MN6.6 mi · 602 people · home $424,300
- Rochester, MN7.2 mi · 121,395 people · home $310,500
- Kasson, MN7.7 mi · 6,851 people · home $285,200
- High Forest, MN8.3 mi · 966 people · home $396,000
Salem questions
Is Salem, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 86% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 83%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $417,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,143, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 52.3 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 16, 1962. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)