Its National Register listings include Fish Creek Bridge and Bicksler Block. Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

What makes Salem stand out

Where Salem beats most towns.

Bicksler Block

History

Settled in 1838

5 places on the National Register

A history going back 188 years.

Small town

381 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Houghton · 5 mi Hillsboro · 5 mi Westwood · 8 mi St. Paul · 8 mi Mount Pleasant · 9 mi Rome · 10 mi

Bicksler Block · National Register of Historic Places

Salem’s story

188 years in pictures

5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1838Salem is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Salem: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Salem, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterRathbun Reg Wtr Assn (Burlington) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Salem’s trash rules yet

SchoolsMount Pleasant Community School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereHenry County AuditorHenry County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025

ZIP code5264952649 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Salem.

Work & commute

Salem stands out in Iowa and nationally: the average trip to work there is longer

Among 141 Iowa towns, just 9 have a lower income of the median household than Salem. In Salem, 1.1% of working residents work locally, below both the Iowa town median (31%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Salem: 18% of residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Mount Pleasant (37%), Fairfield (4%) and Iowa City (4%).

1%work in town

	Salem	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	1.1%	31%	8%
Average trip to work	31 minutes	19 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	18%	11%	9.6%
Median household income	$51,000	$69,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Salem1%

Mount Pleasant37%

Fairfield4%

Iowa City4%

Davenport4%

19 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Salem

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageSalem’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here37 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work1% work in Salem Commute times31 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 19 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Schools

The schools Salem’s kids attend

Its one school is below. 86 students attend Salem’s public school.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Salem Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5	Grades K–5	86	B⁺

Full pageSalem’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsMount Pleasant Comm School District Every school1 school · Salem Elementary School Questions“Are Salem’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Climate

In Salem, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

In July, afternoons reach 85°; in January, nights fall to 15°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a winter.

26″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter18–35°

Spring40–62°

Summer63–84°

Fall43–64°

Oct 10

typical first frost

Apr 30

typical last frost

+0.3°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageSalem’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 85°, January lows 15°Rain & snow26″ of snow a winter · 38 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Salem is

In Salem, 39% of adults have obesity, against 38% in Iowa’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. The share of adults in Salem who binge drink: 19%. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Salem.

	Salem	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	30%	32%	33%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	19%	20%	16%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	38%	35%	35%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	35%	32%	36%

32 measures vs. Iowa

0 better28 too close to call4 worse

What stands out	Salem	IA
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	16%	11.6%
More adults who have had a stroke	3.9%	3.3%
More adults who have had cancer	10.2%	8.7%

Henry County Health Center

8.4 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, mental health

Full pageSalem’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby8.4 miles to an ER · Henry County Health Center How adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distress Every CDC estimateBetter than IA on 0 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: moderate risk in Salem, mostly inland flooding

44% of Salem’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by heat waves at 13%. On expected storm and flood damage, Salem sits above 57% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Salem households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2008.

57risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingHeat wavesStrong wind

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageSalem’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters2 federal disasters · Paid out in Salem Get ready0.8 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Housing