The Town FilesSalem, North Carolina
Community in Burke County · population 2,356 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,100
- Household income
- $68,988
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.3
Salem is a community of 2,356 people in Burke County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $159,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of North Carolina towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $159,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $68,988, which is more affordable than 94% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $856 | $969 |
| Median household income | $68,988 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.2% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1979 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 2008.
Severe weather in Burke County since 1996
Burke County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Burke County
Burke County had 29,553 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,986 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near Salem
- Morganton, NC2.8 mi · 17,474 people · home $221,700
- Glen Alpine, NC5.1 mi · 1,529 people · home $172,800
- Drexel, NC6.5 mi · 1,760 people · home $214,400
- Valdese, NC8.1 mi · 4,689 people · home $209,800
- Rutherford College, NC10.4 mi · 1,226 people · home $185,600
- Connelly Springs, NC12.0 mi · 1,529 people · home $206,500
- Nebo, NC12.0 mi · 1,790 people · home $129,800
- Gamewell, NC12.7 mi · 3,702 people · home $170,100
Salem questions
Is Salem, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 28% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 58%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $159,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,988, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1979. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)