Skip to content

Checked

Salem, NC

Census-designated place in Burke County, North Carolina.

Population

2,377

Land area

4.3sq mi

People per sq mi

554

ZIP codes

0

Salem and its ZIP codes

Full map

Salem at a glance

  • Salem is about 2.5 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
  • The median household income is $68,988, 5% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $159,100 (45% below North Carolina) and median rent is $856 a month.

Local data for Salem, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Salem, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$68,988

Poverty rate

19.1%

Median home value

$159,100

Median rent

$856/mo

Homeownership

71.8%

Bachelor's or higher

22.8%

Median age

41.3

Average commute

20.6 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (320), Irish Americans (217), Mexican Americans (113).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Burke County. PPP loans are for Salem.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 2026, -0.8 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$51,032

29,771 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$51,046

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$591M

FY 2026, $6,749 per person

Burke County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Salem, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone77.3%
  • Carpooled21.6%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked1.1%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home0.0%

Average one-way commute: 20.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Salem, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

800

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

112

0.3% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

88° / 28°F

51.5 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Salem, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.8%

U.S. 33.3% +5.5 pts

Diabetes

15.8%

U.S. 12.1% +3.7 pts

Smoking

20.9%

U.S. 12.8% +8.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

14.4%

U.S. 11.1% +3.3 pts

Cities near Salem

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
MorgantonCity2.9 mi19.2
Glen AlpineTown5.2 mi2.1
DrexelTown6.5 mi1.4
ValdeseTown8.5 mi7.9
Rutherford CollegeTown10 mi2.3
Connelly SpringsTown12 mi5
NeboCensus-designated place13 mi5.3
GamewellTown13 mi8.1
IcardCensus-designated place13 mi3.8
Cajah's MountainTown14 mi3.4
CasarTown14 mi1.8
SawmillsTown15 mi6.6
HudsonTown16 mi3.7
RhodhissTown16 mi1.2
HildebranTown16 mi2.8
Granite FallsTown17 mi4.9

Frequently asked questions

What county is Salem, NC in?
Salem is in Burke County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Salem, NC?
About 2,377 people live in Salem, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Salem?
Nearby places include Morganton (2.9 mi), Glen Alpine (5.2 mi), Drexel (6.5 mi), Valdese (8.5 mi), Rutherford College (10 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023