Photo: Paul Sableman from St. Louis, MO · CC BY 2.0119 homes sold in Salem Township in the last year, at a typical $152K
Redfin reports Salem Township’s sales by ZIP code, so these figures are for ZIP 62881, which takes in Salem Township and the area around it. Almost every sale is a house. Below: what each kind of home sells for, what your budget buys, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Salem Township homes are listed.
Every place Salem Township homes are listed, in one stop
We don’t copy listings: the agents’ sites have the photos and the latest price changes. Set what you want once and we open each site already filtered to Salem Township.
For sale
Rent
New, land & open houses
Links open the listing sites; TownRatings isn’t paid for them and doesn’t rank one above another. Rentals and government-owned homes come from sources outside the MLS.
Houses are 98% of Salem Township’s sales, at a typical $153K (year to May 2026)
119 homes sold in the year to September 2026.
typical sale · 120 sold in the year to May 2026
- Per square foot
- $101IL $180
- Days to sell
- 53
- Sold over asking
- 22%
About as many homes sell as usual, at 1.8 times the 2016 price
119 sales in the last year, against 147 in 2020 and a low of 95 in 2012. The typical sale went from $86K in 2016 to $152K.
Source: Redfin Data Center, MLS sales; for ZIP 62881, which takes in Salem Township and the area around it (each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Typical price and $/sq ft are the monthly medians, weighted by sales. Redfin stopped publishing towns’ figures by property type after May 2026, so houses and condos are shown for the year to then.
What $150K buys in Salem Township
Check a listing against what Salem Township homes sold for
Against the town’s median price per square foot over the last 12 months. A rough check: condition, lot and location within town move a price more than this can see.
Bidding wars in Salem Township are more common than before the pandemic, but half fewer homes come up for sale
We read every month of home sales in ZIP 62881 since 2012 so you don’t have to. Each figure covers 12 months, because a single month in a town is too few sales to mean much. Latest: the year to September 2026, 119 sales.
If you’re buying in Salem Township
- Shop in May. It brings about 11 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (9% over asking).
- Offer under asking. Buyers paid 96.3% of the list price on average; 21% paid over.
- You’ll usually have time. Only 28% of homes go under contract within two weeks; the typical one takes 54 days.
Summer brings the homes; winter brings the bidding wars
August has the most new listings (about 12 a month), but December is the most competitive: 13% of December sales close over asking. May and June offer nearly as much choice with fewer homes bid up (9%). March has the least competition (9%).
Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.
Nearly as heated as 2021, and calmer than Illinois
| Salem Township now | 2017–19 | 2021 peak | IL now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price | 21% | 6% | 14% | 36% |
| Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days | 28% | 1% | 1% | 45% |
| Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price | 96.3% | 92.4% | 95.3% | 99% |
| Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract | 54 | 163 | 98 | 51 |
27 homes for sale on a typical day
That’s 51% fewer than in 2017–19 and well under 2018’s 61.
Source: Redfin Data Center, ZIP code tracker; for ZIP 62881, which takes in Salem Township and the area around it (each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3), January 2012 to September 2026 (MLS sales, not seasonally adjusted). Ratios are weighted by homes sold; price cuts by homes for sale.
Owning the typical Salem Township home costs about $1,050 a month
Price: Salem Township’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Salem Township’s 2% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Salem Township is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.
Six things worth knowing
New listings in August
The month with the most choice. February has the fewest, about 7.
Best time to buyProperty tax, a year
Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $152K home, about $3,090 a year.
Taxes vs. neighborsSchools
The schools grade for Salem Township, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.
Schools in Salem TownshipTypical commute
The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Salem Township.
Work & commuteCheck the flood map
Flood insurance isn’t in a standard policy, and lenders require it in FEMA flood zones. Check the address before you make an offer.
Natural hazardsLook up any property
Assessed value, lot size and every past sale of a home you’re eyeing are public, at the town or county assessor and the registry of deeds.
Salem and Centralia sell for less a square foot
The busier markets within 25 miles of Salem Township, by what sold. Prices, taxes and how far a paycheck goes next door are on Cost of living.
| Sold | Typical sale | $/sq ft | Over asking | Days to sell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | 142 | $107K | $77 | 15% | 60 |
| Mount Vernon | 142 | $136K | $102 | 22% | 58 |
| Salem Township (ZIP 62881) | 119 | $152K | $99 | 21% | 54 |
| Salem | 92 | $148K | $95 | 22% | 56 |
| Carlyle | 33 | $179K | $106 | 18% | 71 |
| Rome Township | 23 | $183K | $100 | 40% | 31 |
Redfin Data Center, October 2025 to September 2026. Towns with fewer than 20 sales are left out, and Redfin doesn’t report every town separately.
Post your home to Salem Township, free
Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Salem Township. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Salem Township with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.
Questions about buying a home in Salem Township
What do homes sell for in Salem Township, IL?
119 homes sold in the year to September 2026 at a typical $152K, $99 a square foot.
Is Salem Township a buyer’s or seller’s market?
A seller’s market: 29 homes were for sale in September 2026 and 10 sold, about 2.8 months of supply. Buyers paid 96.3% of asking on average.
When is the best time to buy in Salem Township?
August brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.
How much are property taxes in Salem Township?
About 2% of a home’s value a year. On a $152K home that’s near $3,090.
Where can I see homes for sale in Salem Township?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Salem Township’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Salem Township.
Sales, prices, days on market and listings: Redfin Data Center (MLS, monthly, not seasonally adjusted; for ZIP 62881, which takes in Salem Township and the area around it (each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3)). Property tax rate: Census American Community Survey. Two-bedroom rent: HUD Fair Market Rent. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Schools grade: TownRatings (how grades work).