Salem, OH
Census place 3969834 · pop 11,758
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$47,073 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.1% 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 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
21.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
19.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-0.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
57.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.12% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
8.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
56/100 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 $214,900 · better than most cities
$119,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$795/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
12 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Salem: Crime, Inactive, Property crime. 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, OH a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Salem scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is median household income. Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Salem, OH expensive to live in?
- Salem has a median home value of $119,400 and typical rent around $795/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Salem, OH?
- Its weakest measured area is median household income ($47,073) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Salem, OH best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (12 AQI) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.