Salem, Georgia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 385, Salem's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Salem is a small community located in Georgia, within Upson County. The total population is 385. It ranks as the 529th most populous out of 669 Census-designated places in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Salem is 57.5 years. This is 53% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 8.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 18.4%. This is 38% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Salem, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $91,000. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $303,300. 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Salem has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 4.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.7%) is well below the state average of 49.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (92.0% vs 30.7%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.

Education

18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 34.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 60.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Salem, Georgia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Georgia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 669 Census-designated places in Georgia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.