West-Salem-FNB-il, 2020
West Salem’s story
171 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2020.
- 1855West Salem is settled
West SalemIL
A town of 735, settled in 1855.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
735
2025 Census estimate · −5.6% since 2020
Median home value
$75K
Census ACS
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
46.1
years
Jobs based here
84
A commuter town
Is West Salem a good place to live?
30% of residents are 65 or older in West Salem, against 19% in Illinois’ towns and 18% across U.S. towns. West Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
735 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to West Salem: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Salem, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEJ Water CooperativeNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have West Salem’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereEdwards County ClerkEdwards County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6247662476 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in West Salem.
Work & commute
West Salem has 0.3 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
West Salem had 84 jobs in 2023, down 29 from 2013. For West Salem, the income of the median household is $50,000. Its typical journey to work stands at 22 minutes, below both the Illinois town median (26 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). The top destinations are Albion (26%), Olney (6%) and Olney Township (5%).
3%work in town
| West Salem | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In West Salem3%
Albion26%
Olney6%
Olney Township5%
Mount Carmel4%
16 mi
median commute distance
84
jobs based in West Salem
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools West Salem’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by Edwards County CUSD 1. 171 students attend West Salem’s public school.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Salem Grade SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 171 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
Top of a high hazard risk in West Salem: drought
West Salem’s natural-hazard score from FEMA comes in at 68 of 100. Nearly a third of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from drought, followed by inland flooding at 26%. One declared disaster, in 2004, has brought federal aid to West Salem households.
68risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingEarthquakes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
The climate in West Salem brings four seasons and pleasant summers
July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 23° and about 11 inches of snow falls in a winter.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–42°
Spring45–66°
Summer65–86°
Fall46–68°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have been diagnosed with depression in West Salem than in most of Illinois or the rest of the country
For adults in West Salem, the share who have obesity is 40%. 17% of West Salem adults smoke cigarettes.
| West Salem | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 37% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
0 better21 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | West Salem | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 9.9% | 6.3% |
| More smokers | 17.4% | 12.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.1% | 5.9% |
Wabash General Hospital 1
14.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about West Salem
18pages on West Salem
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of West Salem
About 1 of every 100 West Salem residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave West Salem for work
Where West Salem’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
84jobs based in West Salem
3%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About West Salem
Village in Illinois, United States
West Salem is a village in Edwards County, Illinois, United States. The population was 786 at the 2020 census, down from 897 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1857
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 525 ft
- ZIP code
- 62476
Questions about West Salem
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Salem, IL a good place to live?
West Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.