The Town FilesSalem, New Jersey
City in Salem County · population 5,296 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,800
- Household income
- $38,721
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 36.9
Salem is a city of 5,296 people in Salem County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $79,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks hipper than 88% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 73% of New Jersey towns.
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Homes
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Jersey
- #13 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Oldest Homes
- #16 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey With Little Snow
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Rent
How Salem ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $79,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $38,721, which is more affordable than 99% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,075 a month. 34.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,075 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $38,721 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 34.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 28, 1961 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 21, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 10, 2008.
Severe weather in Salem County since 1996
Salem County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Salem County
Salem County had 21,587 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,562 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Salem
6 public schools with 1,682 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Middle School | 3-8 | 457 | 14.7 |
| John Fenwick Academy | PK-2 | 392 | 14.0 |
| Salem High School | 9-12 | 387 | 9.7 |
| Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School | PK-8 | 173 | 7.9 |
| Mannington Township Elementary School | PK-8 | 161 | 8.5 |
| Elsinboro Township School | K-8 | 112 | 7.5 |
Towns near Salem
- Pennsville, NJ4.3 mi · 12,684 people · home $214,100
- Quinton, NJ5.1 mi · 2,580 people · home $220,900
- Pennsville, NJ5.7 mi · 12,043 people · home $207,600
- Alloway, NJ8.3 mi · 3,283 people · home $326,800
- New Castle, DE8.6 mi · 5,551 people · home $285,100
- Carneys Point, NJ8.9 mi · 8,637 people · home $201,500
- Carneys Point, NJ9.5 mi · 7,841 people · home $193,300
- Pilesgrove, NJ9.6 mi · 4,183 people · home $383,300
Salem questions
Is Salem, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 3% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 13%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $79,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,721, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,075 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 28, 1961. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)