The Town FilesSalem, West Virginia
City in Harrison County · population 1,529 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,800
- Household income
- $38,529
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.6
Salem is a city of 1,529 people in Harrison County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $77,800, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of West Virginia towns, hipper than 86% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of West Virginia towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $77,800, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $38,529, which is more affordable than 76% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $525 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,800 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $525 | $811 |
| Median household income | $38,529 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.0 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 23, 2017 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 14, 2014.
Severe weather in Harrison County since 1996
Harrison County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Harrison County
Harrison County had 37,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,286 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Salem
1 public school with 175 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Elementary | PK-5 | 175 | 9.7 |
Towns near Salem
- Clarksburg, WV10.8 mi · 16,061 people · home $129,900
- West Union, WV11.4 mi · 653 people · home $98,600
- Nutter Fort, WV12.8 mi · 1,493 people · home $121,000
- Lumberport, WV12.9 mi · 717 people · home $126,100
- Despard, WV13.2 mi · 794 people · home $86,500
- East View, WV13.8 mi · 817 people · home $66,500
- Stonewood, WV14.0 mi · 1,798 people · home $154,200
- Anmoore, WV14.8 mi · 513 people · home $90,300
Salem questions
Is Salem, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 72% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 19%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $77,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,529, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $525 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 24.0 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 23, 2017. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)