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Salem, MO
City in Dent County, Missouri.
Population
4,677
Land area
3.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,344
ZIP codes
0
Salem and its ZIP codes
Salem at a glance
- Salem is about 15 times as dense as Missouri as a whole.
- It is the 157th most populous of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.
- Households here earn a median of $43,923 a year, 38% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $115,000 (50% below Missouri) and median rent is $639 a month.
Local data for Salem, MO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Salem, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$43,923
Poverty rate
11.1%
Median home value
$115,000
Median rent
$639/mo
Homeownership
50.0%
Bachelor's or higher
15.1%
Median age
42.3
Average commute
15.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (529), German Americans (392), Scottish Americans (82).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Dent County. PPP loans are for Salem.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$44,539
3,674 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$46,477
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$153M
FY 2026, $10,597 per person
How people get to work
Salem, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone89.1%
- Carpooled4.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home5.9%
Average one-way commute: 15.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Salem, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
450
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
9
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 22°F
47.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Salem, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.3%
U.S. 33.3% +7.0 pts
Diabetes
14.8%
U.S. 12.1% +2.7 pts
Smoking
21.1%
U.S. 12.8% +8.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.5%
U.S. 11.1% -0.6 pts
Cities near Salem
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Edgar SpringsCity | 19 mi | 0.5 |
| LickingCity | 20 mi | 2.1 |
| BunkerCity | 22 mi | 0.7 |
| ViburnumCity | 23 mi | 1.7 |
| SteelvilleCity | 24 mi | 2.4 |
| RollaCity | 25 mi | 12.1 |
| St. JamesCity | 25 mi | 4.2 |
| RaymondvilleTown | 27 mi | 3 |
| NewburgCity | 28 mi | 0.6 |
| DoolittleCity | 28 mi | 2.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Salem, MO in?
- Salem is in Dent County, Missouri.
- What is the population of Salem, MO?
- About 4,677 people live in Salem, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Salem?
- Nearby places include Edgar Springs (19 mi), Licking (20 mi), Bunker (22 mi), Viburnum (23 mi), Steelville (24 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023