Salem
What’s happening
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Weather
Forecast →Upcoming events
Put the next local happening — a market, a meeting, a concert — on the map.
Local news
Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.
The Salem album
Outdoors in Salem
Parks & trails →Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
About Salem
Independent city in Virginia, United StatesSalem is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Salem with Roanoke County, which surrounds both Salem and the neighboring City of Roanoke, for statistical purposes. Salem has its own courthouse and sheriff's office, but shares a jail with Roanoke County, which is located in the Roanoke County Courthouse complex in Salem. The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office and Roanoke County Department of Social Services are also located within Salem, though the county administrative offices are located in u…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
How Salem ranks
All →Town numbers
Housing in Salem
The typical Salem home is worth about $310,000, up 4.1% in a year, 25% below the Virginia typical home.
A seller's market
Safety in Salem
Not graded
A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Salem's police department reported only 2023 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.
Work & commute in Salem
Full picture →About one in 4 of Salem’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Roanoke (27%), Cave Spring (5%) and Hollins (4%). Half commute less than 6 miles.
Health in Salem
Health Grade B
Healthier than 59% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 79% of towns with similar incomes.
Compared with Virginia
of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.
What stands out
Care nearby
Natural hazards in Salem
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 43% of U.S. communities.
Climate in Salem
Full climate →Salem has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Schools in Salem
All Salem schools →School Grade B+
The public schools Salem’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 65% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
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 VA. Ratings are from neighbors.
Salem’s library
Library details →Where Salem is
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Location map