Median Age
36 Years
Largest Age Group
5-14 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
30%
Over 65
16%
Salem
Salem, NJ Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,450
Population
6,273
Renter Mix
72% Rent
A riverside town with a rich history
Walkable
•
Mass Transit
•
NYC
•
Historic
•
River
•
Philly
•
Green Space
•
In 1664, two Quakers quarreled over some land along the river in New Jersey. One of the Quakers, John Fenwick, decided to organize a colony on the land and set himself up as governor -- in defiance of an agreement brokered by William Penn to settle the dispute. Today, Salem's picturesque and historic downtown offers a glimpse into the city's long history with its brick-paved sidewalks, period lighting, and quaint buildings housing locally-owned shops and restaurants. The landmark Old Salem County Courthouse is the second-oldest courthouse in the country and the oldest in the state -- it was built in 1735.
As one of New Jersey's less-populated cities, residents of Salem enjoy a little extra elbow room -- elegant houses sit atop large lots, surrounded by mature trees, and open park space provides gathering places for the community. The Salem River flows along the northern edge of Salem, and the Delaware River is located directly west. Salem is about 14 miles southeast of Wilmington, Delaware, and Amtrak's Acela Express is available for those who prefer mass transit. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is about 40 miles northeast, and Manhattan is a two-hour drive or a one-hour train ride away.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$34,125
Average: $45,902
Education
628
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
2,224
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Salem has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
72%
Non-Renters
28%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
7%
Other Education
93%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Salem, NJ is $1,450 for one bedroom, and $1,380 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in Salem has increased by 1.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,450/month
1,000 Sq Ft
House
$1,898/month
783 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Salem, NJ is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-8
171 Students
Public
Grades K-8
117 Students
Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
177 Students
Public
Grades K-8
487 Students
John Fenwick Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
411 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
171 Students
Public
Grades K-8
117 Students
Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
177 Students
Public
Grades K-8
487 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
420 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Scarecrow Hollow Corn Maze
- Fort Mott State Park
- Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Delaware State Park
- Fort DuPont
Military Bases
Airports
- Philadelphia International
Top Apartments in Salem
Houses for Rent in Salem
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Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.