Salem receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Salem
Roanoke
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs41 · Bottom 19%
Growth
32 · Bottom 20%
vs32 · Bottom 20%
Climate
77 · Top 24%
vs77 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 21%
vs75 · Top 31%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 43%
vs87 · Top 39%
Schools
70 · Top 26%
vs38 · Bottom 32%
Access
45 · Bottom 3%
vs45 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 35%
vs42 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Salem | Roanoke | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,618 | 98,355 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,725 | $55,378 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,370 | $36,576 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,765/sq mi | 2,313/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $258,600 | $190,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,133 | $996 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.8% | 52.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 30.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 18.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 28 | 263 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -89.4% | -34.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| 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 | 82 mi | 81 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 20.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.0 | 38.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.44 | 12.75 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 63.2% | 41.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 73.1% | 55.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 47.3% | 95.4% | 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.
Full profiles: Salem, VA · Roanoke, VA · How this is calculated: methodology