West Salem, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 713, West 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

West Salem is a small community located in Illinois, within Edwards County. The total population is 713. It ranks as the 812th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Salem is 46.1 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 12.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Salem is $49,821. This is 40% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $74,600. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, West Salem is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Salem has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.3% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% 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 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West 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.