The Town FilesSalem, Pennsylvania
Township in Mercer County · population 753 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,900
- Household income
- $54,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 34.7
Salem is a township of 753 people in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $179,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 78% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 78% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 70% 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 $179,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $54,375, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $638 | $996 |
| Median household income | $54,375 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.4% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 33.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 43,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,120 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Salem
- Sugar Grove, PA2.6 mi · 947 people · home $157,400
- Sandy Creek, PA4.1 mi · 802 people · home $157,300
- Otter Creek, PA4.3 mi · 523 people · home $111,100
- Hempfield, PA5.3 mi · 3,735 people · home $172,600
- East Fallowfield, PA5.3 mi · 1,515 people · home $164,100
- Greenville, PA5.5 mi · 5,540 people · home $115,100
- Perry, PA5.7 mi · 1,332 people · home $164,600
- Greenwood, PA6.8 mi · 1,424 people · home $140,200
Salem questions
Is Salem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 70% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 70%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $179,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,375, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 61.5 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
12 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)