Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Salem differs from West Virginia on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Salem is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Salem is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Salem
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.9%), vs 16.2% across West Virginia. No reliable transportation (12.4% vs 8.9%) and utility shut-off threats (14.1% vs 11%) are higher too. 25% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Salem is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salem is healthier than 5%. Against the 1,995 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 31%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the West Virginia figure falls outside Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. All seven of Salem’s estimates fall in the lowest 14% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 24.1% of adults, against 21.1% across West Virginia and 15.9% nationally.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Salem’s median household income is $38,529; among the 1,995 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs below WV on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Salem; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Salem adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Salem adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | D− | 41.8% | 15.3% | 21.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than West Virginia on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.1%23.9–32.7 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.2–20.2 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.1%21.1–27.1 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%34.8–49.2 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.3%13.1–17.4 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.4%36.4–44.6 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%35.7–44.5 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30.4–37.2 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 13%11.4–14.8 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 11.3%9.4–13.2 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.6 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.8%18.5–25.7 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.5%17.6–25.5 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.5%27.9–39 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%10.8–16.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%36.5–47.1 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%7.6–12.9 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.4–83.2 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%47–54.2 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%77.9–84.5 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%72.7–78.4 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%60.9–69.8 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.9–79.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.8%27.6–36.6 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.8–41.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.2–28.1 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.9%17.7–26.9 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.2%12.5–18.5 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.1%11.9–16.6 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.4%10.4–14.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25%20.3–30.1 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41%35.5–46.3 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%15.5–21 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.9%19.6–26.4 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6–7.9 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.3–15.4 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.3–6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the West Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 49.2%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Company in Weston, 17.1 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–12.9%), against 8.5% across West Virginia.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Salem more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.