Salem city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Salem city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 7,341. It ranks as the 276th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Salem city is 38.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Salem city is $57,083. This is 30% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 72% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $99,800. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Salem city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Salem city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.0% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Salem city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.