Salem is a city in and the county seat of McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The city's population was 1,325 at the 2020 census. The current mayor is Shawn English.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code57058

Area code605

Living in Salem

Housing in Salem

$115K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $115,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Salem

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Salem for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Sioux Falls (29%), Mitchell (5%) and Montrose (4%). Half commute less than 32 miles.

Sioux Falls

29%

Mitchell

Montrose

Madison

17%Work in townlive and work in Salem 32 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 429Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Salem →

Health in Salem

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 72% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with South Dakota

2better than SD·1worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

79.3%More adults treating high blood pressureSD 75.9% · better 87.8%More adults getting cholesterol checkedSD 84.8% · better 11.1%More adults who have had cancerSD 9.2% · worse

Care nearby

Madison Regional Health SystemMadison · 23.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Horizon Health - Howard MedicalHoward · 21 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

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 52% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

5Does Salem flood?paid flood claims since 2019 3Disasters 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 cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

29° / 10°Winter

57° / 34°Spring

82° / 59°Summer

59° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Salem get?About 31 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 29, with the last in spring around May 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Salem

All Salem schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Salem’s kids attend trail 69% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictMcCook Central School District 43-7Schools3

McCook Central Elementary - 02 DElementary · Grades PK–5 · 225 students McCook Central Middle School - 03 BMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 84 students McCook Central High School - 01 CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 118 students

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