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Salem, MA
City in Essex County, Massachusetts. ZIP codes: 01970.
Population
44,795
Land area
8.3sq mi
People per sq mi
5,401
ZIP codes
1
Salem and its ZIP codes
Salem at a glance
- Salem is about 6 times as dense as Massachusetts as a whole.
- It is the 30th most populous of 248 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
- Households here earn a median of $85,153 a year, 18% less than the Massachusetts figure of $103,960.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $542,800 (3% below Massachusetts) and median rent is $1,836 a month.
Local data for Salem, MA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools13
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks14
- Parks42
- Grocery Stores15
- Restaurants175
- Affordable Housing4
- Home Health Agencies1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers8
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Private Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities1
- Historic Places25
Housing and community stats
Salem, MA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$85,153
Poverty rate
12.1%
Median home value
$542,800
Median rent
$1,836/mo
Homeownership
49.7%
Bachelor's or higher
47.8%
Median age
39.3
Average commute
28.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (9,820), Italian Americans (5,658), Dominican Americans (5,291).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Essex County. PPP loans are for Salem.
Unemployment rate
4.6%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$78,072
326,688 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$86,852
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$12.11B
FY 2026, $14,950 per person
PPP loans
$126M
1,629 loans, 12,964 jobs reported
How people get to work
Salem, MA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone55.9%
- Carpooled5.9%
- Public transit5.3%
- Walked6.6%
- Bicycle0.7%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other4.0%
- Worked from home21.6%
Average one-way commute: 28.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Salem, MA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: coastal flooding
Storm events since 1996
1,225
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
5,537
2.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / 18°F
48.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone25 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Salem, MA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
29.7%
U.S. 33.3% -3.6 pts
Diabetes
9.2%
U.S. 12.1% -2.9 pts
Smoking
11.0%
U.S. 12.8% -1.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.5%
U.S. 11.1% -5.6 pts
ZIP codes in Salem
1 in or overlapping Salem. Population shown
Cities near Salem
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MarbleheadCensus-designated place | 2.2 mi | 4.4 |
| SwampscottCensus-designated place | 2.7 mi | 3 |
| PeabodyCity | 3.3 mi | 16.2 |
| LynnCity | 3.8 mi | 10.7 |
| BeverlyCity | 4.2 mi | 15.1 |
| DanversCensus-designated place | 4.8 mi | 13.3 |
| NahantCensus-designated place | 5.7 mi | 1.1 |
| SaugusCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 10.8 |
| LynnfieldCensus-designated place | 7.3 mi | 9.9 |
| RevereCity | 8.4 mi | 5.7 |
| WakefieldCensus-designated place | 8.4 mi | 7.4 |
| MelroseCity | 8.8 mi | 4.7 |
| TopsfieldCensus-designated place | 9.1 mi | 2.7 |
| MaldenCity | 9.8 mi | 5 |
| StonehamCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 6 |
| ReadingCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Salem, MA in?
- Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts.
- What ZIP codes are in Salem, MA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Salem include 01970.
- What is the population of Salem, MA?
- About 44,795 people live in Salem, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Salem?
- Nearby places include Marblehead (2.2 mi), Swampscott (2.7 mi), Peabody (3.3 mi), Lynn (3.8 mi), Beverly (4.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023