About one in 10 people in Salem city, Virginia, lives below the poverty line

In Salem city, 9.6% of people lived below the poverty line. That is lower than in 81% of U.S. counties.

Photo of Ross Kilburn
Data from
County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026
86th
of 133 counties in Virginia
38score /100

Less distressed than 61% of U.S. counties.

What drives Salem city's score

In Salem city, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 79.2. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 24.1. About one in 23 people (4.3%, 2020 to 2024) has no health insurance, a lower share than in 88% of U.S. counties.

The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Salem city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.

Even so, Salem city is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (26.2%, fiscal year 2027).

A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.

  • Housing costs

    Biggest factor
    79.2 of 100

    Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027

    • Renters paying half their income or more in rent
      21.5% · 2020 to 2024
      69th percentile
    • Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income
      26.2% · fiscal year 2027
      88th percentile

  • Collections and bankruptcy

    45.5 of 100

    Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025

    • People with unpaid debt sent to a collector
      18.6% · August 2025
      32nd percentile
    • Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people
      144.5 · 2025
      58th percentile

  • Late payments

    38.4 of 100

    Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026

    • People with a credit card behind
      3.2% · August 2025
      12th percentile
    • People with a car or retail loan behind
      6.0% · August 2025
      61st percentile
    • People with a subprime credit score
      37.8% · second quarter of 2026
      40th percentile

  • Jobs

    29.8 of 100

    Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey

    • Unemployment rate, average over the latest year
      3.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026
      30th percentile
    • Adults 25 to 54 not working
      17.4% · 2020 to 2024
      29th percentile

  • Income and safety net

    24.1 of 100

    Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey

    • People below the poverty line
      9.6% · 2024
      19th percentile
    • Children below the poverty line
      11.8% · 2024
      21st percentile
    • People with a disability
      12.6% · 2020 to 2024
      19th percentile
    • People without health insurance
      4.3% · 2020 to 2024
      11th percentile
    • Median household income (lower income, longer bar)
      $66,996 · 2024
      49th percentile

Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.

How Salem city has changed

The number of jobs located in Salem city had its largest rise, from 20,557 in 1990 to 23,592 in 1995.

The number of jobs located in Salem city was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 18% since

High on the chart: 25,060 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Salem city, Virginia.

015,00030,000 20,55720,590 19901995200020052010201520202025 015,00030,000 20,55720,590 1990200020052010201520202025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · American Default
Download
Data (CSV)
American Default Research
Download data (CSV)
MeasureThenNowSource
Unemployment rateBLS LAUS 1990 3.2% 2025 3.3% BLS LAUS
People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE 1989 6.0% 2024 9.6% Census SAIPE
Median household incomeCensus SAIPE 1993 $33,896 2024 $66,996 Census SAIPE

The table uses 3.3% for 2025; the score uses 3.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.

Dated events in Salem city's history

  1. 1967

    Officially became a city on December 31, 1967, to avoid annexation into Roanoke and was separated from Roanoke County. Wikipedia

  2. 2013

    A flood in July 2013 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database

  3. 2020

    The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 25,346, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau

  4. 2024

    A tornado in May 2024 did $1.17 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database

  5. Since 1972

    14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Salem city, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA

Salem city beside its neighbors

Of the two counties that border Salem city, one scores higher.

CountyDistress scoreScoreRank in its state Poverty rateBenefit checks, share of incomeBenefit checks
Roanoke city, VA 81 27th of 133 16.2% 28.6%
Salem city, VA 38 86th of 133 9.6% —
Roanoke County, VA 16 115th of 133 7.1% —

Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.

Is Salem city the poorest county in Virginia?

No, Salem city's poverty rate was 9.6% in 2024, 90th highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Salem city ranks 86th of 133 in the state.

If you're behind on your mortgage in Salem city

Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.

Virginia foreclosure guide →

The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.

Download the CSV for Salem city · Every U.S. county (CSV)

Cite this Salem city, Virginia, scores 38 on the County Distress Index (data through Sep 2026): less distressed than 61% of U.S. counties · American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/virginia/salem-city-va/

Sources and method

  • American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
  • Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
  • Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
  • History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.