Salem, VA Population

Overview

25,335

Total Population

40.8

Median age

52.38%

Female population %

90.9:100

Gender ratio (M:F)

15-19 years

Largest age group

51.3

Total dependency ratio

White

Largest racial group

903

Hispanic population

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Age

Salem's population is old compared to the rest of the country:

The median age in Salem is 40.8, compared to 38.8 nationwide, according to the American Community Survey 2017 - 2021 5 Year estimates.
Salem's population under 18 was 18.94%, compared to the 22.51% nationwide.
Salem's elderly or the senior population (over 65 age) was 18.82% as compared to 16.04% nationwide.
Of the total population in Salem, 15.08% were under the age of 15, 22.61% aged 15 to 29, 43.50% aged 30 to 64, 15.90% aged 65 to 84, and 2.92% were 85 years of age and older.

There are 1,205 more females than males in Salem:

The female percentage in the USA is 50.50% while the male percentage is 49.50%, compared to 52.38% females and 47.62% males in Salem, VA.
The Salem, VA gender ratio is 90.9:100 i.e. 90.9 men to 100 women (0.909).
For male population, the largest age group is 15-19 years with a population of 1,264.
For the female population, the largest age group is 20-24 years with a population of 1,109.

Salem's population has become increasingly diverse:

Racial distribution of Salem population: 86% are White, 7.17% are Black or African American, 0.11% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.85% are Asian, 0.08% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 1.24% are some other race and 3.54% are multiracial.
Salem's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is an absolute majority of White population in the city.
By ethnicity, 903 is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 24,432 (96.44% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.
The largest racial group in Salem is White with a population of 21,788 (86% of the total population).

Salem's population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline:

The peak population was 25,556 in the year 2009
From 2000 to 2010, Salem's population increased by 114 (0.46%), as compared to the national growth of 9.63%.
From 2010 to 2020, Salem's population increased by 502 (2.02%), according to Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. For the same period, the rate of growth for the United States was 7.17%.
Between the year 2000 and 2022, Salem's population was lowest in year 2004 at 24,544.