Salem, Massachusetts
Among the top 14% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 10% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 37% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 74% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 86% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 40% of US places
- top 1% for walkability
- top 6% for airport distance
- bottom 9% for cost of living
Salem is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with about 45,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include walkability, airport distance, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on sunny days and cost of living.
Official websitesalem.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
cold
v.cold
57%45%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in3.6 in
humid 96%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$79k71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$63kbetter than 9% of US places
Home Value$464k89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 12% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 11% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.28%better than 35% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden18.57%better than 10% of US places
Unemployment5.0%better than 39% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)28°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation48.0 in71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall39.1 inbetter than 22% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 64% of US places
Comfortable Days97 daysbetter than 82% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk25.3better than 93% of US places
Air Quality44 AQIbetter than 59% of US places
School Quality100.0better than 93% of US places
Violent Crime1482/100kbetter than 17% of US places
Property Crime1182/100kbetter than 41% of US places
Community
Population44,54197th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.036th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4074th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8319th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+309th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)68.8%30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.8%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)19.0%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.1%85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.4%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time31 minbetter than 23% of US places
Walkability15.2/20better than 99% of US places
Airport Distance13 mibetter than 94% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.0%better than 64% of US places
Amenities Nearby77.91better than 49% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 26% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Salem an affordable place to live?
- Salem is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $63k, better than 9% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Salem?
- The median home value in Salem is $464k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Salem?
- Median household income in Salem is $79k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Salem?
- Median gross rent in Salem is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Salem safe?
- Salem is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1482/100k (better than 17%). Property crime is 1182/100k.
- What is the weather like in Salem?
- Salem averages 73°F in July and 28°F in January, with 48.0 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Salem?
- Public-school quality in Salem is above average, scoring better than 93% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Salem?
- The average one-way commute in Salem is 31 min.
Other places in Essex County
Places near Salem
Compare Salem
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)