City profile · Utah · Census ACS 2023

Salem, UT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Salem - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,893
Residents
$107,617
Median income
$547,000
Median home
$1,460
Median rent (state)

Salem - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Salem lands in the 82nd percentile for household income and the 92nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

82nd
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
57th
percentile, median rent
92nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Salem, UT

Salem is a small town in Utah, home to 9,893 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $107,617 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.1%. Salem's housing stock carries a median value of $547,000, and the median resident age is 28.6 years. Educational attainment runs 39.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 341 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 225% from five years earlier. Salem reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 312.1 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Utah tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Utah scores 98.9 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,460 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $178 across Utah, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 95.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

9,893 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Utah

Median Household Income

$107,617 /yr

Poverty 3.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.9 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Utah average

How does Salem compare to other US cities?

Salem measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 82% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% pricier than other cities
Safety 92% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Utah, Salem ranks #4 of 67 Utah cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Salem's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Utah, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

82ndIncome percentile
92ndSafety percentile

82nd percentile nationally for median household income · 92nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Salem's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Salem's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 67 Avg. percentile National median
Salem's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Salem's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$547,000 13th percentile more affordable than 13% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Salem $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Salem, UT Salem, UT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Salem, UT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Salem, UT median $107,617/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Salem, UT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Salem, UT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,893
Median Income
$107,617
Median Home Value
$547,000
Median Age
28.6
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
312.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
8.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
303.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,000 residents10,000 residents11,000 residents12,000 residents13,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,362 residents 12,234 residents ▲ +30.7%
Salem's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
341
housing units authorized
Single-Family
224
detached homes
Multifamily
117
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
34.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 105
2020 155
2021 256
2022 143
2023 143
2024 341

Permit volume increased 225% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
13.8%

Based on 4,480 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Utah - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$178
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Utah state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Utah state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Salem sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.9
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,460/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Utah

Cedar Hills
9,945 people
Hyrum
10,022 people
Vernal
10,254 people
Ivins
9,524 people
Alpine
10,272 people
Riverdale
9,294 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Salem's 9,893 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Travis Ranch, TX
9,894 people
Lincoln City, OR
9,890 people
Villas, NJ
9,897 people
Makaha, HI
9,898 people
Woodfield, SC
9,901 people
Muskegon Heights, MI
9,902 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Salem's $107,617 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rendon, TX
$107,618 median income
Taylor Corners, CT
$107,614 median income
El Moro, CO
$107,625 median income
Mundelein, IL
$107,608 median income
Renningers, PA
$107,632 median income
Copperopolis, CA
$107,643 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Salem, UT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Salem, UT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.8% 9.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.4% White 89.8% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 9.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Salem compares to nearby Utah cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Salem (this city) 9,893 $107,617
Cedar Hills 9,945 $137,527
Hyrum 10,022 $85,557
Vernal 10,254 $59,178
Census ACS 5-year FIPS UT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Salem, UT?

What is the population of Salem, UT? +

Salem, UT counts 9,893 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Salem, UT? +

Salem households earn a median of $107,617 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Salem? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Salem; the closest available measure is the Utah state average, a cost of living index of 98.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Utah vary by metro area.

Is Salem, UT safe? +

Salem has a total crime rate of 312.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Salem, UT? +

Homes in Salem carry a median value of $547,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.