Salem, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 780, 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 Kentucky, within Livingston County. The total population is 780. It ranks as the 275th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Salem is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 18.1% 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 Salem is $61,667. This is 3% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.5%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. 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 3.0%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $102,400. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Salem is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Salem has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.4%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.4% vs 5.0%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Salem, Kentucky 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 Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.