County profile · Virginia
Salem city, VA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Salem city, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 25,816
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 10,256
- Median household income
- $66,725
- +16.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $258,600
- Jobs located here
- 21,974
- Highest market score
- 67
- Clothing and shoe stores, #458 of 2,087 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Salem city by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Salem city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 25,816 people live in Salem city, in 10,256 households. Population estimates show Salem city grew 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Salem city is $66,725 a year, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 16.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Salem city spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (70).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Salem city are for clothing and shoe stores (67); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (62); and grocery stores (55). Salem city ranks #458 of 2,087 scored counties for clothing and shoe stores.
Salem city is part of the Roanoke metro area. For its number of households, Salem city has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for optometrists and eye clinics (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (37% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Salem city
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Salem city with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #458 of 2,087 | 8 | 7.8 | $2.4M | 186 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 62 | #629 of 2,210 | 15 | 14.6 | $1.3M | 143 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 55 | #843 of 2,070 | 7 | 6.8 | $8.7M | 94 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #1,042 of 2,358 | 17 | 16.6 | $1.8M | 75 | 11 |
| Child care and preschools | 50 | #822 of 1,611 | 5 | 4.9 | $876K | 87 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 48 | #1,102 of 2,063 | 11 | 10.7 | $3.4M | 92 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 47 | #987 of 1,771 | 15 | 14.6 | $991K | 59 | 10 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 46 | #849 of 1,493 | 10 | 9.8 | $1.5M | 51 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 46 | #1,307 of 2,200 | 20 | 19.5 | $445K | 51 | 4 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 42 | #1,227 of 1,889 | 12 | 11.7 | $3.1M | 76 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #1,628 of 2,057 | 17 | 16.6 | $1.7M | 70 | 21 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 35 | #1,788 of 2,402 | 27 | 26.3 | $2.3M | 67 | 14 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 34 | #1,508 of 1,886 | 11 | 10.7 | $1M | 103 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 32 | #1,174 of 1,485 | 8 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 41 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 31 | #1,785 of 2,272 | 28 | 27.3 | $938K | 75 | 22 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 29 | #1,507 of 1,707 | 10 | 9.8 | $2.9M | 61 | 15 |
| Convenience stores | 29 | #1,835 of 2,261 | 17 | 16.6 | $3.6M | 45 | 10 |
| Gyms | 28 | #1,552 of 1,792 | 15 | 14.6 | $473K | 36 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 27 | #1,285 of 1,530 | 6 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 63 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 27 | #2,098 of 2,176 | 40 | 39.0 | Index only | 70 | 19 |
| Real estate | 27 | #2,152 of 2,229 | 47 | 45.8 | Index only | 75 | 36 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 27 | #2,161 of 2,405 | 83 | 80.9 | $453K | 68 | 27 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 26 | #2,170 of 2,405 | 146 | 142.4 | $257K | 69 | 71 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 25 | #1,209 of 1,334 | 8 | 7.8 | $888K | 44 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 25 | #1,290 of 1,461 | 9 | 8.8 | $989K | 39 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 25 | #1,476 of 1,656 | 9 | 8.8 | $1.2M | 69 | 49 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 25 | #1,914 of 2,088 | 25 | 24.4 | $284K | 43 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 24 | #1,376 of 1,490 | 7 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 66 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 23 | #1,309 of 1,422 | 10 | 9.8 | $1.1M | 46 | 5 |
| Pizza | 23 | #1,963 of 2,090 | 20 | 19.5 | $1.9M | 37 | 39 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 23 | #2,010 of 2,222 | 27 | 26.3 | $1.4M | 46 | 39 |
| Spas and skin care | 22 | #1,672 of 1,769 | 13 | 12.7 | $690K | 79 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 21 | #1,241 of 1,327 | 5 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 62 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 20 | #1,238 of 1,328 | 11 | 10.7 | $815K | 49 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 20 | #1,367 of 1,451 | 8 | 7.8 | $1.2M | 47 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 19 | #2,243 of 2,339 | 51 | 49.7 | $176K | 41 | 16 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 19 | #2,317 of 2,385 | 80 | 78.0 | $112K | 53 | 26 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 18 | #2,325 of 2,394 | 226 | 220.4 | $49K | 32 | 78 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 17 | #1,233 of 1,302 | 12 | 11.7 | $927K | 30 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 17 | #2,312 of 2,378 | 55 | 53.6 | $173K | 39 | 36 |
| Auto repair and car care | 17 | #2,329 of 2,401 | 88 | 85.8 | $108K | 40 | 46 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | $404K | 60 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | $3.7M | 58 | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | Index only | 68 | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | $7.2M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $3M | 158 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $9.6M | 80 | 6 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $6.3M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | Index only | 130 | 5 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $3.2M | 23 | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $3M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.0 | $3.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $18.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $14.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
Household spending in Salem city
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $9.5M | $928 | 97 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $30.6M | $2,985 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $37.6M | $3,665 | 90 |
| Groceries | $60.8M | $5,932 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $9M | $874 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.4M | $427 | 74 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.1M | $692 | 70 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.1M | $1,085 | 84 |
| Pets | $8.9M | $868 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $18.9M | $1,841 | 90 |
| Vehicle insurance | $26.3M | $2,561 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $28.8M | $2,813 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $14.9M | $1,450 | 103 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $151.8M | $14,798 | 89 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Salem city
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 25,816+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 10,256
- Median age
- 41.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 63%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 15 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,765
- Median household income
- $66,725+16.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $96,247
- Median home value
- $258,600
- Jobs located here
- 21,974
- Daytime population
- 36,320Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Salem city?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Salem city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
- Roanoke County, VA97,023 people
- Roanoke city, VA98,355 people
- Craig County, VA4,856 people
- Botetourt County, VA34,004 people
- Montgomery County, VA99,101 people
- Franklin County, VA55,130 people
- Floyd County, VA15,593 people
- Radford city, VA16,726 people
Questions
How fast is Salem city, VA growing?
Population estimates put Salem city at 25,816 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 10,256 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 16.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Salem city, VA spend?
Households in Salem city spend about $151.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $60.8M on groceries and $37.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Salem city runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (70).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Salem city, VA?
Of the business types scored in Salem city, clothing and shoe stores (67); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (62); and grocery stores (55) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing and shoe stores, that ranks #458 of 2,087 scored counties.
How does Salem city, VA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Salem city is $66,725, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $258,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for optometrists and eye clinics (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (37% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 41 of the 56 business types have a score in Salem city, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Salem city. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Salem city?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Salem city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.