Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

County in New Jersey

Salem County, New Jersey

Salem County is a county in New Jersey with 65,275 residents, No. 21 of 21 by population. In Salem County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $630,200, and a typical home is worth $239,500. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,860 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $35.77 an hour.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home price

    $239,500

    −47% vs. New Jersey −28% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Salem
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,860 a month

    −18% vs. New Jersey +6% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Salem
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $630,200

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Salem
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    2.93% of value per year

    +39% vs. New Jersey +212% vs. U.S.

    $7,018 a year for the typical owner

    • Salem
    • New Jersey
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$297,450
3.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,747 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Salem County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $2,384 a month: 36% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $102,153 a year; the typical income here is $79,960. The typical home value is 47% less than in New Jersey overall. 71% of households own their home, more than in New Jersey (64%). The typical property tax is $7,018 a year (about 2.93% of home value), lower than in New Jersey.

55% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Salem County apart

  1. Salem County has the highest effective property tax rate of the 21 counties in New Jersey: 2.93%.

  2. Of the 21 counties in New Jersey, Salem County has the lowest typical rent: $1,253.

  3. Salem County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $1,253, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Cumberland County ($1,282).

  4. 17% of homes in Salem County (3,723) are in FEMA's high-risk flood zone, and only 39% of those carry NFIP flood insurance.

  5. At $239,500, Salem County ranks 2nd among the 21 counties in New Jersey for the lowest typical home value.

  6. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Salem County rose 69% on FHFA's index, faster than in New Jersey (63%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FEMA (As of August 3, 2026); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Salem County

What homes there are in Salem County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 74% of homes here, against 53% in New Jersey.

Year built

In Salem County, half of the homes were built before 1962; in New Jersey, before 1970.

There is more room for a big family here: 64% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 57% in New Jersey.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 95% of owner-occupied homes in Salem County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($630,200).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 83% of rented homes in Salem County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($1,860).

With a mortgage

$2,074 a month

New Jersey: $2,829 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,009 a month

New Jersey: $1,232 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

New Jersey: 64%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Salem County is $2,074 a month, less than in New Jersey ($2,829); without one, $1,009.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Salem County rose 30% since 2015–2019, less than in New Jersey (35%).

The typical rent in Salem County rose 23% over the same time; in New Jersey, it rose 29%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 20%, while home values changed +30% and rent +23%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSalem CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.3%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.1%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.572.622.53
Drive alone 80%62%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%
Public transit 1%8%3%
Walk or bike 1%3%3%
Work from home 10%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Salem County, the rental vacancy rate is 6.3%; in New Jersey, 3.5%.

Fewer households are short on space in Salem County: 1.1% have more than one person per room; in New Jersey, 4.0%.

Much as in New Jersey, a household in Salem County has 2.57 people on average.

In Salem County, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in New Jersey, 62%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Salem County?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home of $239,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income here, which is $79,960 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $102,153 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Salem County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,383 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,384

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$235,162
Total interest
$338,342
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,045 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,866 a month

  • Tight

    $1,866 to $2,399 a month

    Your payment · 36%

  • Hard

    more than $2,399 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Salem County ($79,960 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,384
Principal & interest$1,593
Property tax$585
Home insurance$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$106

You need at least $8,383 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Salem County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Salem County compares with New Jersey and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Salem County rose 79% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here New Jersey United States
In 2025 +4.6% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +79% +88% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Salem County compared with New Jersey and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Salem $239,500
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Salem $1,253
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Salem $79,960
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Salem compared with New Jersey and the United States
MeasureHereNew JerseyU.S.
Residents65,2759,343,809334,922,499
Typical home value$239,500$454,400$332,700
Typical household income$79,960$103,556$80,734
Typical rent$1,253$1,720$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,860$2,268$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$35.77$43.62$33.65
Typical property tax$7,018$9,590$3,119
Effective tax rate2.93%2.11%0.94%
Households that own their home71%64%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent55%52%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$630,200$1,249,125$541,287

FHA limit: New Jersey shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Salem County

For a typical $239,500 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,384 $8,383 $235,162 7.18% FHA MIP · $106 $15,568 580
Conventional, 5% down $2,340 $11,975 $227,525 7.18% PMI · $114 $19,160 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,983 $47,900 $191,600 7.18% None $55,085 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,204 $35,925 $203,575 8.18% None $43,110 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Salem County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-de-MD). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $630,200 $832,750
2 units $806,750 $1,066,250
3 units $975,200 $1,288,800
4 units $1,211,950 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Salem County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Salem County, the typical owner pays $7,018 a year: about 2.93% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of New Jersey and more than the national average.

  • Salem 2.93%
  • New Jersey 2.11%
  • United States 0.94%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Salem County 17% of homes (3,723) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 39% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Salem County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Salem County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Salem County as relatively low.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Salem County from all natural hazards is $40.1 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects coastal flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $14.1 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Coastal floodingVery high $14.1 million a year
  2. Inland floodingRelatively low $11.9 million a year
  3. EarthquakeRelatively low $1.3 million a year
  4. HurricaneRelatively low $814,772 a year
  5. TornadoRelatively low $424,820 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Salem County in zone 4A: mixed and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$35.86$22.59 and $63.76
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$35.99$23.27 and $68.37
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$31.05$21.88 and $48.46
Roofers$28.72$19.49 and $41.65
Carpenters$29.70$21.97 and $47.34
Painters, construction and maintenance$27.60$18.04 and $37.00
Maintenance and repair workers, general$24.14$17.56 and $37.16

An electrician earns about $35.86 an hour in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area, and a plumber, about $35.99.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Salem County

The typical rent in Salem County is $1,253 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

55% of renter households in Salem County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 30% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,438 $27.65 $57,520
1 bedroom $1,558 $29.96 $62,320
2 bedrooms $1,860 $35.77 $74,400
3 bedrooms $2,216 $42.62 $88,640
4 bedrooms $2,445 $47.02 $97,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Salem County

Programs and counseling in Salem County

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

New Jersey down payment programs

  1. NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program

    NJHMFA second loan with no interest, forgiven after five years, for first-time buyers in New Jersey

    First-time buyers only. Run by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance Program

    Extra NJHMFA assistance for first-time buyers whose parents have never owned a home (or who were in foster care in New Jersey)

    First-time buyers only. Run by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all New Jersey programs

Help in Spanish in Salem County

None of the 0 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Salem Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (856) 935-5022
  • Penns Grove Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (856) 299-0101

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Places

Cities in Salem County

This site has no city pages of Salem County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 3 cities of Salem County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Salem County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Salem County in 2026?

Salem County has an FHA limit of $630,200 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $806,750, for 3 it's $975,200 and for 4 it's $1,211,950. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Salem County?

Salem County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Salem County?

The typical home value in Salem County is $239,500 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across New Jersey it's $454,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Salem County?

Salem County has a typical rent of $1,253 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,860 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Salem County?

About $35.77 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $74,400 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,860 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).