The Town FilesSalem, New York
Community in Washington County · population 811 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,300
- Household income
- $82,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.1
Salem is a community of 811 people in Washington County, New York. The median home is worth $182,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 90% of New York towns, better for retirees than 89% of New York towns, quieter than 79% of New York towns.
How 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 Salem is worth $182,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $82,750, which is more affordable than 76% of New York towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 83.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $844 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $82,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 7.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 10, 2020 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| August 31, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4020: Hurricane Irene |
| March 4, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1827: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 14,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Towns near Salem
- Salem, NY0.9 mi · 2,612 people · home $196,000
- Hebron, NY6.0 mi · 1,786 people · home $206,800
- Jackson, NY7.0 mi · 1,723 people · home $235,400
- Greenwich, NY7.7 mi · 4,868 people · home $241,900
- Rupert, VT8.5 mi · 698 people · home $362,500
- Argyle, NY8.7 mi · 3,644 people · home $249,300
- Arlington, VT9.3 mi · 2,457 people · home $318,500
- Cambridge, NY10.4 mi · 1,788 people · home $193,800
Salem questions
Is Salem, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 89% of New York towns and quieter than 79%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $182,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,750, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 75.2 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 10, 2020. 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)