The Town FilesNorth Salem, New York
Town in Westchester County · population 5,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $670,600
- Household income
- $178,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 43.0
North Salem is a town of 5,243 people in Westchester County, New York. The median home is worth $670,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of New York towns, more upscale than 97% of New York towns, better for families than 95% of New York towns.
How North Salem ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Salem is worth $670,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $178,750, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,660 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Salem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $670,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,660 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $178,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in North Salem
| People | North Salem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.0% | — |
| Work from home | 23.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 39.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in North Salem
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Salem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 10, 1989 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 20, 2001.
Severe weather in Westchester County since 1996
Westchester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4755: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Westchester County
Westchester County had 429,582 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,317 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in North Salem itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in North Salem
2 public schools with 963 students, about 8.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 513 | 7.5 |
| PEQUENAKONCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 450 | 9.2 |
Towns near North Salem
- Brewster, NY4.3 mi · 2,508 people · home $398,200
- Heritage Hills, NY4.5 mi · 4,511 people · home $524,800
- Lewisboro, NY4.9 mi · 12,265 people · home $820,900
- Southeast, NY5.2 mi · 18,058 people · home $446,900
- Somers, NY6.0 mi · 21,541 people · home $646,000
- Carmel, NY6.0 mi · 7,538 people · home $488,300
- Ridgefield, CT6.1 mi · 25,033 people · home $836,200
- Carmel, NY6.7 mi · 33,576 people · home $495,100
North Salem questions
Is North Salem, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Salem scores better for retirees than 97% of New York towns and quieter than 44%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in North Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in North Salem is valued at $670,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $178,750, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,660 a month.
What is the weather like in North Salem?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 44.7 inches of snow.
Does North Salem get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 10, 1989. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)