Salem

Population: 2,035
Median household income: $66,653
Median home value: $159,300

Salem is a community in Burke County, North Carolina, home to 2,035 residents. At $66,653, its median household income sits above Burke County's $55,684.

Between 2019 and 2023, Salem's population grew 15.8% from 1,757 to 2,035, while its median home value rose 18.1% from $134,900 to $159,300.

The median resident is 42.8 years old. The largest age group is 65 to 74, 17.3% of residents.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 2,035
Median age: 42.8 yrs
Median household income: $66,653
Median home value: $159,300
Median gross rent: $772
Housing units: 1,106
Homeownership rate: 74.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.9%
Unemployment rate: 7.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,7572,035

Median household income

$49,375$66,653

Median home value

$134,900$159,300

Median gross rent

$622$772

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,757	$49,375	$134,900	$622
2020	1,479	$50,469	$128,800	$594
2021	1,573	$54,750	$123,700	$675
2022	1,634	$55,156	$140,500	$678
2023	2,035	$66,653	$159,300	$772

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 59.4%

5 to 1710.9%

18 to 243.8%

25 to 3412.6%

35 to 4414.5%

45 to 549.6%

55 to 6412.6%

65 to 7417.3%

75 and over9.3%

	Count	Share
Under 5	192	9.4%
5 to 17	221	10.9%
18 to 24	78	3.8%
25 to 34	256	12.6%
35 to 44	295	14.5%
45 to 54	195	9.6%
55 to 64	257	12.6%
65 to 74	352	17.3%
75 and over	189	9.3%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,576	77.4%
Black or African American	30	1.5%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	32	1.6%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	89	4.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	308	15.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.6%

High school graduate27.9%

Some college or associate's36.6%

Bachelor's degree16.8%

Graduate or professional degree4.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	226	14.6%
High school graduate	431	27.9%
Some college or associate's	565	36.6%
Bachelor's degree	259	16.8%
Graduate or professional degree	63	4.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 19 min

Drove alone75.6%

Carpooled23.0%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.4%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home0.0%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	653	75.6%
Carpooled	199	23.0%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	12	1.4%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	0	0.0%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	362	41.9%
15 to 29 min	350	40.5%
30 to 44 min	83	9.6%
45 to 59 min	27	3.1%
60+ min	42	4.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.21
Poverty rate: 19.9% (401 of 2,020)

	Count	Share
Family households	535	58.2%
Nonfamily households	384	41.8%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1977

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	919	83.1%
Vacant	187	16.9%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	682	74.2%
Renter-occupied	237	25.8%

1-unit, detached73.4%

1-unit, attached1.0%

2 to 4 units8.0%

5 to 19 units2.1%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other15.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	812	73.4%
1-unit, attached	11	1.0%
2 to 4 units	89	8.0%
5 to 19 units	23	2.1%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	171	15.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3758740
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 4.29 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.6997, -81.7003