The Town FilesSalem, Pennsylvania
Township in Clarion County · population 896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,000
- Household income
- $68,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.7
Salem is a township of 896 people in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $163,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 82% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 77% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $163,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,125, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $715 a month. 87.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $715 | $996 |
| Median household income | $68,125 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 3, 2015.
Severe weather in Clarion County since 1996
Clarion County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Clarion County
Clarion County had 12,341 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,067 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Salem
- Richland, PA3.1 mi · 777 people · home $181,300
- Knox, PA4.4 mi · 1,093 people · home $114,100
- Ashland, PA5.3 mi · 1,119 people · home $166,400
- Beaver, PA5.3 mi · 1,833 people · home $156,000
- Emlenton, PA5.4 mi · 614 people · home $103,900
- Licking, PA6.0 mi · 577 people · home $143,800
- Rockland, PA7.8 mi · 1,243 people · home $117,300
- Elk, PA7.9 mi · 1,434 people · home $140,900
Salem questions
Is Salem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 82% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 63%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $163,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,125, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $715 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 52.5 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)