Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 129, settled in 1883.
Only 1 of the 167 South Carolina towns we compare have a lower median rent than Salem. Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 139 in 1910, a peak of 301 in 1970, 120 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2019 and 3 maps from 1959 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Salem, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Salem.
The typical Salem home is worth about $562,000, up 3.6% in a year, 85% above the South Carolina typical home. 81% of Salem households own their home, where South Carolina’s towns sit at 65% and U.S. towns at 73%.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Salem has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Only 7 of the 170 South Carolina towns we compare have a lower July high than Salem.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
2 crimes were reported in Salem in 2025: 2 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Salem is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Salem beats the South Carolina average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 20% of Salem adults report frequent physical distress, against 15% in South Carolina’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. 18% of Salem adults have diabetes.
| Salem | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 40% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 23% | 19% |
| What stands out | Salem | SC |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 84.8% | 80.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 13.4% | 7.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Salem. Close and well known come first.
28 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
16 mi Stadium & arenaMemorial Stadium, Clemson
6 mi LakeLake Jocassee
8 mi LakeLake Keowee
34 mi MountainCurrahee Mountain
30 mi LakeLake HartwellBlue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Memorial Stadium, Clemson: Caseyh at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Jocassee: Clemson3564, Public domain · Lake Keowee: Inundated_38Oc1.jpg: Matthew T. Bradley from Berkshire County, Mass., USA deriva, CC BY 2.0 · Currahee Mountain: Wikilackey (talk), Public domain · Lake Hartwell: blahedo, CC BY-SA 2.5
None within 15 miles of Salem; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 Salem residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Carolina.
Town in South Carolina, United States
Salem is a U.S. town in Oconee County, South Carolina. The population was 120 at the 2020 United States census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Salem has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
