Salem is a very small city located in the state of West Virginia. With a population of 1,474 people and three associated neighborhoods, Salem is the 125th largest community in West Virginia. Salem has a large stock of pre-World War II architecture, making it one of the older and more historic cities in the country.

Because there are quite a few people attending college in Salem, it is thought of as a college town. To the benefit of the many students in the area, Salem provides a number of services, amenities and opportunities geared towards their needs and activities.

The percentage of adults in Salem with college degrees is slightly lower than the national average of 21.84% for all communities. 13.90% of adults in Salem have a bachelor's degree or advanced degree.

The per capita income in Salem in 2022 was $21,304, which is low income relative to West Virginia and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $85,216 for a family of four. However, Salem contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

The people who call Salem home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Salem residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Salem include Irish, German, English, Italian, and Scottish.

The most common language spoken in Salem is English. Other important languages spoken here include Polish and West Germanic languages.