Salem, NJ
Census place 3465490 · pop 5,322
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
4.57% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
1462 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
34.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$38,721 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
79.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
39.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
6.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
20.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
43.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
15.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
24.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
16.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2493 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
80/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+11.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$79,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Salem: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Salem, NJ a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Salem scores 22/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is property-tax burden. New Jersey overall ranks #43 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Salem, NJ?
- Salem reports 1462 violent crimes per 100k and 2493 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Salem, NJ expensive to live in?
- Salem has a median home value of $79,800 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Salem, NJ?
- Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (4.57%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Salem, NJ best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($79,800) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.