Salem, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Salem, Illinois had a total population of 7,236, the 277th largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $59,728, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.4%.
Salem Quick Facts
How Salem Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,341 | 7,236 | -1.4% |
| Median household income | $57,083 | $59,728 | +4.6% |
| Median home value | $99,800 | $106,100 | +6.3% |
How Salem Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Salem Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Marion County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | 11,856 | $47,807 | 24.3% | $89,600 |
| Central City | 1,081 | $44,896 | 29.1% | $47,600 |
| Sandoval | 1,004 | $52,841 | 26.7% | $59,100 |
| Odin | 972 | $46,131 | 18.3% | $102,600 |
| Wamac | 804 | $36,500 | 27.7% | $20,100 |
| Kinmundy | 803 | $42,303 | 15.8% | $95,400 |
| Junction City | 638 | $56,364 | 14.7% | $83,500 |
| Farina | 570 | $46,146 | 10.7% | $83,800 |
| Iuka | 534 | $61,146 | 9.6% | $72,600 |
| Patoka | 498 | $65,833 | 9.3% | $89,200 |
Cities Similar to Salem
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 7,235 | $62,089 | $122,000 | 23.7% | 11.3% |
| Clinton | 6,985 | $62,323 | $102,800 | 20.4% | 14.5% |
| Park City | 7,827 | $60,171 | $57,400 | 18.0% | 9.6% |
| Stickney | 6,952 | $66,942 | $244,900 | 23.2% | 12.3% |
| Benton | 6,863 | $54,123 | $87,200 | 17.6% | 17.7% |
Population Overview
Salem is a small city located in Illinois, within Marion County. The total population is 7,236. It ranks as the 277th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Salem is 39.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Salem is $59,728. This is 28% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 38% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $106,100. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Salem is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Salem has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (91.3% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Salem, Illinois 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 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Illinois city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Salem, Illinois?
Salem, Illinois has a population of 7,236 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Salem, IL?
The median household income in Salem is $59,728, which is 26% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Salem, IL?
The poverty rate in Salem is 16.3%. This means approximately 1,132 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Salem, Illinois?
Salem's population is 91.3% White, 2.6% Black, 0.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Salem, IL?
The median home value in Salem is $106,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Salem, Illinois?
15.6% of adults (25+) in Salem hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.