The Town FilesSalem, South Dakota
City in McCook County · population 1,325 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,700
- Household income
- $74,881
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.6
Salem is a city of 1,325 people in McCook County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $166,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 91% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 82% of South Dakota towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $166,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $74,881, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $965 | $785 |
| Median household income | $74,881 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 26.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 30, 1998 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 151 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 20, 1991.
Severe weather in McCook County since 1996
McCook County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McCook County
McCook County had 1,338 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,576 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Salem
4 public schools with 472 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCook Central Elementary - 02 | PK-4 | 208 | 13.9 |
| McCook Central High School - 01 | 9-12 | 121 | 15.1 |
| McCook Central Middle School - 03 | 5-8 | 115 | 16.4 |
| Goldenview Colony School - 04 | K-8 | 28 | 28.0 |
Towns near Salem
- Canistota, SD9.9 mi · 631 people · home $137,000
- Bridgewater, SD13.1 mi · 511 people · home $116,100
- Humboldt, SD16.6 mi · 579 people · home $227,700
- Alexandria, SD20.1 mi · 649 people · home $180,200
- Howard, SD21.1 mi · 848 people · home $100,700
- Marion, SD21.7 mi · 849 people · home $164,500
- Colton, SD23.4 mi · 738 people · home $192,900
- Hartford, SD23.8 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
Salem questions
Is Salem, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 60% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 52%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $166,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,881, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 30, 1998. The typical South Dakota 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)