The Town FilesSalem, Pennsylvania
Township in Luzerne County · population 4,027 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,600
- Household income
- $78,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 55.0
Salem is a township of 4,027 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $200,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 89% 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 $200,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $78,560, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,040 a month. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,040 | $996 |
| Median household income | $78,560 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 9.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 1, 2006 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 2000.
Severe weather in Luzerne County since 1996
Luzerne County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Luzerne County
Luzerne County had 145,190 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,901 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Salem
- Briar Creek, PA4.8 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,500
- Berwick, PA5.0 mi · 10,327 people · home $156,500
- Sugarloaf, PA8.7 mi · 3,846 people · home $300,500
- Newport, PA9.6 mi · 4,433 people · home $96,700
- Nanticoke, PA11.6 mi · 10,628 people · home $108,100
- Butler, PA11.9 mi · 9,485 people · home $252,900
- West Hazleton, PA12.3 mi · 5,163 people · home $151,800
- Ross, PA13.2 mi · 2,726 people · home $218,200
Salem questions
Is Salem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 89% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 94%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.0).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $200,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,560, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,040 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.6 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 1, 2006. 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)