The Town FilesSalem, New Mexico
Community in Doña Ana County · population 797 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $61,500
- Household income
- $31,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 98°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 30.0
Salem is a community of 797 people in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $61,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 84% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 78% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of New Mexico towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among New Mexico 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 Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $61,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $31,386, which is more affordable than 87% of New Mexico towns. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $61,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $31,386 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.5% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 54.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 48.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 97.5°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 10.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 114 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 22, 1987 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 22, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 20, 1991.
Severe weather in Doña Ana County since 1996
Doña Ana County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4886: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1659: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County had 79,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,974 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Towns near Salem
- Hatch, NM3.7 mi · 1,539 people · home $102,800
- Radium Springs, NM23.9 mi · 1,498 people · home $136,100
Salem questions
Is Salem, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 19% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 54%. 7.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $61,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,386, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 97.5°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 22, 1987. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- 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)