South Salem Academy · National Register of Historic Places
South Salem’s story
180 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1846South Salem is settled
South SalemOH
Photo: Aesopposea · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
207
2025 Census estimate · −2.4% since 2020
Typical home
$183K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
34.4
years
Jobs based here
97
Balanced
Is South Salem a good place to live?
39% of residents live below the poverty line in South Salem, against 9.1% in Ohio’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. South Salem Academy is on the National Register of Historic Places. South Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes South Salem stand out
Where South Salem beats most towns.
Small town
207 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 South Salem: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in South Salem, and how to reach them.
PowerAEP Ohio19.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRoss County Water Co IncNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have South Salem’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Ohio you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDirector, Ross County Board of ElectionsRoss County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2020
ZIP code4568145681 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in South Salem.
Who lives here
More children than Ohio overall
Children under 18 are 35% of residents (22% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (22% statewide). South Salem’s median age is 34.4 years, below both the Ohio town median (41.7 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). South Salem has lost 2.4% of its people since 2020, down to 207 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
34.4median age · OH 39.7
| South Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 years | 41.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 22% | 24% | 29% |
South SalemOhioUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma10%
High school46%
Some college14%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s13%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 5% and 85% women
The Census survey reached too few of South Salem’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±40 points. Across Ohio, 50.7% of residents are women.
| South Salem | OH | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 20% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.4% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.9% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.9% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.8% | 13.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.5% | 10.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.9% | 8.2% | 10.4% |
| High school | 45.9% | 32.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.5% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9% | 9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.6% | 19.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9% | 12.2% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
Housing
The typical home in South Salem is valued at about $183K
The typical South Salem home is worth about $183,000, up 3.3% in a year, 25% below the Ohio typical home. 84% of South Salem households own their home.
$183KZillow home value
Typical home value
South Salem$183K
Ohio$246K
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in South Salem
South Salem has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 22° and about 18 inches of snow falls in a winter.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–41°
Spring41–63°
Summer61–83°
Fall43–66°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
A job hub: South Salem has 1.4 jobs for every working resident and draws in 96 commuters
Most working residents leave South Salem for work: only 1% work in town. Jobs based in South Salem grew to 97 in 2023, 95 more than in 2013. South Salem’s average trip to work is 22 minutes.
1%work in town
| South Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 6.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In South Salem1%
Greenfield17%
Chillicothe14%
Columbus10%
Washington Court House6%
17 mi
median commute distance
97
jobs based in South Salem
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
Compared with most of Ohio and the rest of the country, more of South Salem’s adults smoke cigarettes
23% of adults smoke cigarettes in South Salem. South Salem beats the Ohio average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 34% of adults get no exercise outside work in South Salem.
| South Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 26% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Ohio
0 better14 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | South Salem | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 22.5% | 15.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.5% | 8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 19.9% | 14.1% |
Greenfield Area Medical Center
4.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in South Salem, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about South Salem
16pages on South Salem
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of South Salem; the nearest are
Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusCommunity college · Public · Chillicothe16.3 mi$6,362 in-state tuitionSouthern State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Hillsboro17.8 mi$5,912 in-state tuitionCentral State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Wilberforce40.2 mi$8,058 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 South Salem residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Ohio.
About South Salem
Village in Ohio, United States
South Salem is a village in Ross County, Ohio, United States. The population was 219 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1846
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 919 ft
- ZIP code
- 45681
Questions about South Salem
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is South Salem, OH a good place to live?
South Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.