The typical owner-occupied home in Salem is worth about $106,100, 60% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 68% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,253 a year in property taxes, about 2.12% of their home's value, higher than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $59,728 a year, so the median home costs 1.8 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Salem at a glance
| Salem | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,100 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,253 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.12% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $59,728 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 60% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,093 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.5% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $774 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.6% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1969 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.0% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 7,236 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Salem
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Salem home of $106,100 with 20% down costs about $803 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $979, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $34,399 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Salem household income of $59,728; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $184,000.
The median rent here is $774 a month, so owning the median home costs about $29 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $21,220 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $84,880 |
| Principal and interest | $571 |
| Property taxes (2.12% a year) | $187 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $44 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $803 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $3,714 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $104,178 |
| Principal and interest | $701 |
| Property taxes (2.12% a year) | $187 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $44 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $47 |
| Total per month | $979 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Salem
What is the median home value in Salem?
About $106,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Salem?
Homeowners pay a median $2,253 a year, which is about 2.12% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Salem?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $803 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $34,399 a year.
More about Salem
- Mortgage Refinance in Salem
- Debt Relief in Salem
- Home Equity Loans in Salem
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data