Salem is a city in and the county seat of Dent County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,608 at the 2020 census, which allows Salem to become a Class 3 city in Missouri; however, the city has chosen to remain a Class 4 city under Missouri Revised Statutes. Salem is located a few miles north of the Ozark Scenic Riverways and close to Montauk State Park, which contains the headwaters of the Current River. The name Salem is derived from the Hebrew word Shalom, meaning "peace".

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Salem ranks

All →

#6Highest graduation rate in MO #11Cheapest rent in MO #17Shortest commute in MO All MO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code65560

Area code573

Living in Salem

Housing in Salem

$192K▲ 6.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Salem home is worth about $192,000, up 6.1% in a year, 28% below the Missouri typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Salem

Safety Grade C

Salem reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 69% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Salem 2.3

Missouri 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Salem 9.7

Missouri 16.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Salem

Full picture →

About one in 4 of Salem’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Rolla (9%), Columbia (2%) and St. James (2%). Half commute less than 25 miles.

Rolla

Columbia

St. James

Jefferson City

28%Work in townlive and work in Salem 25 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,235Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Salem →

Health in Salem

Health Grade D

Healthier than 8% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 29% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Missouri

15worse than MO

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 2▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

25.6%More older adults who have lost all their teethMO 15.8% · worse 12.2%More adults with COPDMO 8% · worse 9.3%More adults with heart diseaseMO 6.8% · worse

Care nearby

Salem Memorial District HospitalSalem · 3.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Four Rivers Community Health Center SalemSalem · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Salem · CMS · HRSAHealth in Salem →

Natural hazards in Salem

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding

0Does Salem flood?no paid flood claims on record 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Salem

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Salem →

Climate in Salem

Full climate →

Salem has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

46° / 25°Winter

67° / 43°Spring

86° / 63°Summer

68° / 44°Fall

How much snow does Salem get?About 1 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 18, with the last in spring around Apr 17.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Salem →

Schools in Salem

All Salem schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Salem’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 51% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Salem’s schools compare in MO →

DistrictSALEM R-80Schools6

Salem Upper Elem. CElementary · Grades 2–5 · 335 students WM. H. Lynch Elem.Elementary · Grades PK–1 · 257 students I Can Too Learning CenterElementary · Grades PK–6 · 142 students Salem Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 254 students Salem SR. High C-High · Grades 9–12 · 606 students Ozark Hills SchoolOther · Grades K–12 · 5 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.