Signals
Cave Spring
Salem
Climate
77 · Top 24%
vs77 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 21%
vs81 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 27%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
84 · Top 9%
vs70 · Top 26%
Access
47 · Bottom 3%
vs45 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
71 · Top 27%
vs53 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Cave Spring | Salem | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,742 | 25,618 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,539 | $66,725 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,725 | $39,370 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,156/sq mi | 1,765/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $325,800 | $258,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,285 | $1,133 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.5% | 62.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.8% | 33.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.8" | 42.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 78 mi | 82 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 20.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.69 | 12.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 76.7% | 63.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 81.9% | 73.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 30.3% | 47.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
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Cave Spring
75
Your Score
—
Area Score
Salem
61
Your Score
63
Area Score
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Full profiles: Cave Spring, VA · Salem, VA · How this is calculated: methodology