The Town FilesWest Salem, Wisconsin
Village in La Crosse County · population 5,277 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,100
- Household income
- $97,019
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.6
West Salem is a village of 5,277 people in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $277,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How West Salem ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Salem is worth $277,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $97,019, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,283 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Salem | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,283 | $951 |
| Median household income | $97,019 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Salem
| People | West Salem | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in West Salem
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Salem since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1965 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in La Crosse County since 1996
La Crosse County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in La Crosse County
La Crosse County had 69,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,448 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in West Salem itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in West Salem
3 public schools with 1,841 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Salem Elementary | PK-4 | 686 | 13.2 |
| West Salem High | 9-12 | 606 | 13.8 |
| West Salem Middle | 5-8 | 549 | 14.1 |
Towns near West Salem
- Onalaska, WI5.9 mi · 18,803 people · home $288,900
- La Crosse, WI8.5 mi · 52,680 people · home $210,100
- French Island, WI9.1 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- Onalaska, WI9.3 mi · 5,835 people · home $320,100
- Shelby, WI10.1 mi · 4,804 people · home $301,200
- Holmen, WI10.2 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- Campbell, WI10.3 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- La Crescent, MN11.8 mi · 5,276 people · home $272,400
West Salem questions
Is West Salem, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Salem scores better for retirees than 54% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 4%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in West Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in West Salem is valued at $277,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,019, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,283 a month.
What is the weather like in West Salem?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 54.2 inches of snow.
Does West Salem get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1965. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)