Local Mover Banner Image

Moving to Salem, MA?

Get Moving Quotes
Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3 Vendor 4 Vendor 5 Vendor 6 Vendor 7 Vendor 8 Vendor 9

Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Salem, MA

Considering a move to Salem, MA? With a population of 44,480, Salem blends coastal New England charm with modern amenities and a walkable downtown. The median home price is around $530,000, and average rent for a two-bedroom is about $1,880. Residents enjoy relatively low violent crime (236 per 100k), a 30-minute average commute, and strong public schools and healthcare options. Salem’s rich history, moderate climate, and vibrant cultural scene make it a welcoming choice for families and professionals alike.

Demographics - Salem, MA

Demographics - Salem, MA

Salem is home to approximately 44,480 residents with a median age of 38.6, featuring a diverse community where nearly 20% speak languages other than English at home. The city’s population is predominantly White, with notable Black, Asian, and other minority groups contributing to its cultural richness. Its moderate gender ratio and urban density make for a lively yet balanced environment.

demograph population
Population:
44,480
demograph density
Density:
5,260 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
38.6
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
91 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
19.8%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
74.4%
demograph blacks
Black:
7.3%
demograph asian
Asian:
2.9%
demograph others
Others:
15.4%
People moving
People moving

Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Salem, MA?

Salem’s cost of living is notably higher than the national average, with a median home value of $530,000 and average monthly rent around $1,880 for a two-bedroom apartment. Residents can expect higher housing and utility costs, while state taxes range from 5% to 9%. Overall, living in Salem offers a vibrant community with expenses reflective of its desirable coastal location.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$530,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$1,880
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$145
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,600
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$2,430
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$850
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
5.0%
|
High:
9.0%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
134.1
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
116.3
cost of living housing
Housing:
149.7
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
118.2
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
131.5
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
117.0
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
110.5

Crime

Crime

Is Salem, MA a safe place to live?

Salem offers a relatively safe environment, with a violent crime rate of 236 incidents per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 1,473 per 100,000. The chance of experiencing a violent crime is about 1 in 424, which is below national averages for cities of similar size. Residents generally enjoy a secure and welcoming atmosphere.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
236
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
1,473
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
1,709
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 424
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 68
People moving
People moving

Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Salem, MA year-round?

Salem experiences all four seasons, with warm summers reaching highs of 81°F and chilly winters dipping to 22°F. The city sees about 47 inches of rainfall annually and enjoys sunshine 56% of the year, offering a pleasant balance for outdoor activities. Seasonal changes bring vibrant autumns and comfortable springs, ideal for exploring the area’s coastal beauty.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
22°F
weather max
Max:
38°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
40°F
weather max
Max:
63°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
62°F
weather max
Max:
81°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
46°F
weather max
Max:
68°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
46.9 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
56%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Salem’s neighborhoods are characterized by a median household income of $77,200 and a poverty rate of 11.4%. The local community is well-educated, with nearly 94% of adults holding at least a high school diploma and over 44% possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher. Residents benefit from accessible public transportation and an average commute of just under 30 minutes.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$41,900
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$77,200
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$90,800
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$41,700
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$50,800
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$44,200
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
11.4%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
19.8%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$1,880
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
4.1%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
12.6%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
29.8 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
93.9%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
44.1%
People moving
People moving

Education

Education

How are the schools in Salem, MA?

Salem offers strong educational opportunities with public schools like Salem High and Collins Middle, featuring favorable student-teacher ratios around 10:1. The city is also home to Salem State University, providing higher education to over 7,000 students, and is close to other colleges and private schools. Families benefit from a well-rounded selection of academic options across all levels.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Salem High School
education publicStreet
Street:
77 Willson St
education publicPhone
Phone:
978-740-1123
education publicStudents
Students:
900
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
10.2


education publicName
Name:
Collins Middle School
education publicStreet
Street:
29 Highland Ave
education publicPhone
Phone:
978-740-1231
education publicStudents
Students:
700
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
11.7


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
The Phoenix School
education privateStreet
Street:
89 Margin St
education privatePhone
Phone:
978-741-0870
education privateStudents
Students:
70


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Salem State University
education collegeCity
City:
Salem
education collegeState
State:
MA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
7,100


education collegeName
Name:
Endicott College
education collegeCity
City:
Beverly
education collegeState
State:
MA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
6 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
4,300


Healthcare

Healthcare

Salem provides excellent healthcare access with major facilities like Salem Hospital offering emergency and general services, and a strong physician presence at 3.1 doctors per 1,000 residents. Health insurance coverage is high at 96%, ensuring most residents have reliable access to care. The city’s healthcare index reflects good service quality and availability.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Salem Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
81 Highland Ave, Salem, MA 01970
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(978) 741-1200
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Massachusetts General Hospital North Shore Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
102-104 Endicott St, Danvers, MA 01923
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(978) 882-6100
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
Specialty & Outpatient
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
No


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
3.1
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
96.0%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
79.8
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Salem, MA?

Salem’s housing market is competitive, with a median home price of $530,000 and an owner-occupancy rate just over 52%. Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,880, while the market has shown steady appreciation at 6.1% over the past year. Low foreclosure and vacancy rates indicate a stable and desirable place to buy or rent.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$530,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$1,880
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
52.3%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
4.7%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
6.1%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.4%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Residents of Salem access motor vehicle services through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, located in nearby Boston. The RMV provides licensing, registration, and title services both online and in person, ensuring convenient support for drivers. Contact information and resources are readily available via the state’s official website.

dmv state
State:
Massachusetts
dmv department
Department:
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
dmv address
Address:
136 Blackstone St, Boston, MA 02109
dmv phone
Phone:
857-368-8000
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Salem, MA

Planning a relocation in or near Salem? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Salem.

Local Moving Services Local Movers

Salem, MA

Piano Moving Services Piano Movers

Salem, MA

Cheap Movers Cheap Movers

Salem, MA

Small Mover Small Movers

Salem, MA

Small Mover Apartment Movers

Salem, MA

FAQs About Moving to Salem, MA

Moving illustration

Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Salem. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Salem climate and weather.

Moving within Salem usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Salem. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Salem offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Salem at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
Get Quotes