The Town FilesSalem, Pennsylvania
Township in Westmoreland County · population 6,093 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,800
- Household income
- $80,293
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 55.0
Salem is a township of 6,093 people in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $178,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 72% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter 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 $178,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,293, which is more affordable than 82% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $863 a month. 85.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $863 | $996 |
| Median household income | $80,293 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1976 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Westmoreland County since 1996
Westmoreland County has been included in 20 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County had 129,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,519 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Salem
- Delmont, PA2.7 mi · 2,596 people · home $261,400
- Murrysville, PA7.4 mi · 21,006 people · home $342,100
- Greensburg, PA7.6 mi · 14,976 people · home $184,100
- Penn, PA7.6 mi · 20,079 people · home $301,200
- Washington, PA7.8 mi · 6,883 people · home $236,200
- Jeannette, PA8.0 mi · 8,780 people · home $114,400
- Manor, PA9.3 mi · 3,585 people · home $273,500
- Hempfield, PA10.0 mi · 41,466 people · home $232,100
Salem questions
Is Salem, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 88% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 70%. 28.9% 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 $178,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,293, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $863 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1976. 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)