Salem

County:: Burke County
County Seat:: No
Area (mi²):: 4.293
State:: North Carolina

Salem is a CDP located in Burke County, North Carolina. Salem has a 2025 population of 1,488. Salem is currently declining at a rate of -3.19% annually but its population has increased by 0.61% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 1,479 in 2020.

The average household income in Salem is $62,709 with a poverty rate of 19.85%. The median age in Salem is 42.8 years: 42.7 years for males, and 44.5 years for females.

Demographics

The racial composition of Salem includes 80.59% White, 11.3% other race, and smaller percentages for Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, Native American, Asian and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

White

Other race

Two or more races

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Black or African American

Native American

Asian

Race	Population	Percentage (of total)
White	1,640	80.59%
Other race	230	11.3%
Two or more races	89	4.37%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	32	1.57%
Black or African American	30	1.47%
Native American	14	0.69%
Asian	0	0%

Salem Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

Never Married

Economics and Income Statistics

Salem's average per capita income is $40,452. Household income levels show a median of $66,653. The poverty rate stands at 19.85%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.

Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.

Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.

Name	Median	Mean
Married Families	$75,795	-
Families	$71,099	$75,756
Households	$66,653	$62,709
Non Families	$28,661	$38,355

$40,452

Average Income

$66,653

Median Household Income

19.85%

Poverty Rate