How much does it cost to rent in Salem, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Salem, VA is $1,536. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Salem cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Salem is among the more affordable cities in Virginia, ranking #73 out of 83 cities at $1,536/mo.

When was Salem rent data last updated?

Salem rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Salem

Name: Average Rent Prices in Salem, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 25,618·73rd most expensive in Virginia·Salem rents are up 7.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,536/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.3%

Month-over-Month

-2.2%

vs US Median

-$429

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Salem · $1,536

More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

28% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,536/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$61,000/yr

Local median income

$66,725/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Salem's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$960

1 BR

$1,020

2 BR

$1,230

3 BR

$1,720

4 BR+

$2,030

Research median

$1,230/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,432/yr

At $1,536/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (7.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.3% YoY, -2.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Salem, VA is majority owner-occupied, 33% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,618

Median income

$66,725

Median age

Renters

37.2%

Age distribution

19.5%

24.7%

23.2%

13%

19.6%

Under 1819.5%

18–3424.7%

35–5423.2%

55–6413%

65+19.6%

Gender

47.6%

52.4%

Male47.6%

Female52.4%

Race & ethnicity

82.5%

White82.5%

Black8.7%

Hispanic4.8%

Asian2%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

29.5%

31.6%

33%

No HS diploma5.8%

HS diploma29.5%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+33%

Housing tenure

62.8%

37.2%

Owner62.8%

Renter37.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Salem, VA has changed in 5 years

Income

$66,472 → $66,725

up 0.4%

Population

25,335 → 25,618

up 1.1%

Renter share

34.6% → 37.2%

+2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

32.2% → 33%

+0.8 pts

Median age

40.8 → 40

-0.8 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $66,472 to $66,725 across the same window, up 0.4% versus 2021. The population has grown by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 25,335 residents to roughly 25,618. Renters now make up 37.2% of households, compared with 34.6% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Salem

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View Salem rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Salem on your salary?

At $1,536/mo, how Salem rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 19.1% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 23.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 13.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 28.8% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 25.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Salem rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Salem. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Salem

About renting in Salem, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Salem is $1,536/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $960/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,020/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,720/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($66,725/yr), Salem ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Salem an affordable city for renters?

Salem is considered affordable for renters. At $1,536/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($66,725/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Salem falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Salem?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,536/mo in Salem. The local median household income is $66,725/yr, meaning the typical Salem household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Salem?

Rent in Salem has increased 7.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Salem rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Salem is one of the more affordable cities in Virginia for rent, ranking #73 out of 83 tracked cities at $1,536/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Salem?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Salem ($1,536/mo): Martinsville ($871/mo), Roanoke ($1,394/mo), Radford ($1,503/mo).

What percentage of Salem residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.2% of Salem households are renters, while 62.8% are owner-occupied. Salem leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.