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Salem, NJ

City in Salem County, New Jersey.

Population

5,322

Land area

2.3sq mi

People per sq mi

2,270

ZIP codes

0

Salem and its ZIP codes

Full map

Salem at a glance

  • Salem is 79% denser than New Jersey as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $38,721 a year, 63% less than the New Jersey figure of $103,556.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $79,800 (82% below New Jersey) and median rent is $1,075 a month.

Local data for Salem, NJ

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Salem, NJ, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$38,721

Poverty rate

24.8%

Median home value

$79,800

Median rent

$1,075/mo

Homeownership

34.7%

Bachelor's or higher

15.0%

Median age

36.9

Average commute

28.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (314), Puerto Ricans (266), Irish Americans (256).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

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

Details

Unemployment rate

6.1%

Aug 2026, -1.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$69,567

22,148 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$60,000

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$496M

FY 2026, $7,653 per person

Salem County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

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

  • Drove alone63.3%
  • Carpooled21.3%
  • Public transit4.9%
  • Walked0.3%
  • Bicycle0.4%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
  • Worked from home8.5%

Average one-way commute: 28.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Salem, NJ, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: coastal flooding

Storm events since 1996

858

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

1,518

7.0% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

87° / 26°F

45.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Salem, NJ, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

43.0%

U.S. 33.3% +9.7 pts

Diabetes

16.7%

U.S. 12.1% +4.6 pts

Smoking

20.7%

U.S. 12.8% +7.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

16.5%

U.S. 11.1% +5.4 pts

Cities near Salem

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
QuintonCensus-designated place3.7 mi0.9
Hancocks BridgeCensus-designated place4.5 mi0.2
PennsvilleCensus-designated place5.9 mi10.7
Delaware City, DECity6.3 mi1.9
AllowayCensus-designated place6.3 mi6.8
Port Penn, DECensus-designated place7 mi0.4
New Castle, DECity8.6 mi3.5
WoodstownBorough9.5 mi1.6
St. Georges, DECensus-designated place9.8 mi1.4
Carneys PointCensus-designated place9.8 mi8.4
MarlboroCensus-designated place9.9 mi0.4
Wilmington Manor, DECensus-designated place9.9 mi1.6
Arrowhead LakeCensus-designated place10 mi0.2
AuburnCensus-designated place11 mi4.3
Penns GroveBorough11 mi0.9
Bear, DECensus-designated place12 mi5.8

Frequently asked questions

What county is Salem, NJ in?
Salem is in Salem County, New Jersey.
What is the population of Salem, NJ?
About 5,322 people live in Salem, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Salem?
Nearby places include Quinton (3.7 mi), Hancocks Bridge (4.5 mi), Pennsville (5.9 mi), Delaware City, DE (6.3 mi), Alloway (6.3 mi).

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