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Population
Salem County’s population declined 2.9 percent from 2010 to 2015, dropping from 66,083 to 64,180.
Race and Ethnicity
• White: 82%
• Black: 15%
• Asian: 1%
• Hispanic: 8%
• Two or more races: 2%
• Other: 2%
Registered Voters and Turnout
Close to a third (31 percent) of Salem County’s registered voters are Democrats, 23 percent are Republicans and 46 percent are Unaffiliated. In both 2012 and 2016, 67% of registered voters casted ballots, which was equal to the region and state in 2012 but less than both in 2016. In 2016 the voter turnout in the region and state was 68 and 69 percent respectively.
Highest Level of Educational Attainment (people 25 years or older)
• Non High School Graduated: 11.1%
• High School Graduate: 39.1%
• Some College, No Degree: 19.4%
• Associate’s Degree: 9.9%
• Bachelor’s Degree: 14.3%
• Graduated or Professional Degree: 6.2%
Projected Employment Change by Sector, 2014-2024 (percent change)
Highest Increases:
• Transportation and Warehousing: 22.9%
• Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: 21.5%
• Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: 17.9%
• Accommodation and Food Services: 14.2%
• Administration and Waste Services: 12.3%
Largest Decreases:
• Education Services: -13.6%
• Manufacturing: -11.0%
• Information: -7.9%
• Government: -5.7%
Unemployment Rate
Salem County’s unemployment rate has seen a steady decline between 2014 and 2016, going from 8.5 percent to 5.2 percent. Comparably, the downward trend in unemployment rates matches that of the region (8.0 to 4.9 percent), New Jersey (6.7 to 4.1 percent), and the nation (6.2 to 4.9 percent). Salem County’s unemployment rate was notably higher than the region and New Jersey’s from 2014 to 2016.
Poverty Rate
The poverty rate in Salem County has dropped from 18.4 percent in 2013 to 11.4 percent in 2015. Despite the improvement, it has remained in the double digits over the aforementioned time period, and has outpaced the region and state’s poverty rates. The region (12.1 to 11.0 percent), and the state (11.4 to 10.8 percent) both saw decreases in their poverty rate from 2013 to 2015.
Median Household Income (in current dollars)
The median household income in Salem County has increased between 2013 and 2015. In 2013 it was $61,943, decreased sharply to $57,377 in 2014 before increasing to $68,830 in 2015. Salem County’s median household income was well below New Jersey’s from 2013 to 2015. New Jersey’s median household income from 2013 to 2015 was $70,165, $71.919, and $72,222. The average median household income in South Jersey counties from 2013 to 2015 was $60,949, $62,689 in 2014, and $64,059.
Crime
Nonviolent crime rates in Salem County decreased from 24.1 to 22.3 from 2010 to 2014. Also, there was a decrease in total crime rate from 27.5 to 24.9. The violent crime rate increased slightly from 2.6 to 2.7 from 2010 and 2014. Salem County’s nonviolent and total crime rates far outpaced the New Jersey’s in 2014, while the violent crime rate is lower. New Jersey’s crime rates in 2014 were: nonviolent, 17.0; violent, 3.0; and total crime rate of 20.0.
Land Use
In 2015, Salem County (22.6 percent) had a much higher percentage of non-residential parcel value as a percentage of the total value than the average New Jersey county (4.2 percent). Commercial represented a lower percentage of total parcel value in Salem County (11.5 percent) than the average New Jersey county (13.5 percent).
Housing Affordability (paying 30% or more of income on housing cost)
In 2015, Salem County had a greater proportion of residents, both homeowners (42.0 percent) and renters (59.5 percent), living in housing that was unaffordable than residents across the region (40.1 and 55.8 percentage). The state of New Jersey homeowners and renters affordability percentages are 43.6 and 53.9 respectively.
Foreclosure Rates
As of April 2016, the foreclosure rate in Salem County was 3.5 percent, higher than both the region (2.7 percent) and the state (2.5 percent).
Median Housing Value
The median housing value in Salem County was $184,900 in 2013, and decreased to $180,500 the next year before increasing to $191,200 in 2015. In 2013 the average median housing value in South Jersey counties was $221,313 and dropped to $220,463 the next year before increasing to $225,725 in 2015. The median housing value in New Jersey increased every year between 2013 and 2015 and is much higher than both Salem County and the South Jersey region ($307,700, $313,200, and $322,600.
Property Tax
The average property tax paid in Salem County was $4,870.91 in 2013, and increased to $4,944.40 in 2014 and $5,091.18 in 2015. The average property tax paid in the South Jersey region increased every year between 2013 and 2015 ($5,373.66, $5,534.44, and $5,662.40). The average paid in New Jersey in 2013 was $7,408.36, and increased to $7,592.25 in 2014 and $8,353.45 in 2015.
Housing Occupancy
Salem County has an 88 percent occupancy rate with 72 percent of its unit’s owner-occupied and 28 percent renter-occupied.
Kids Count Rankings
From 2015 to 2016, Salem County dropped 19th among New Jersey counties to 20th in juvenile arrest rate. Salem County has improved its rankings in from 2015 to 2016 in child poverty (21st to 16th), births to girls 10-19 (20th to 18th), and infant mortality rate (15th to 1st). Salem County’s overall Kids Count ranking improved from 21st in 2013 to 16th in 2016.
County Health Rankings
Health Outcomes Rankings
In the category of Health Outcomes (based on variables used to determine length and quality of life), Salem County was ranked 18th in 2014 and 2015 and improved to 17th in 2016.
Health Factors Rankings
In the category of Health Factors (based on variables used to determine health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment), Salem County was ranked 20th in 2014, 19th in 2015, and 20th in 2016.
Social and Economic Factors Rankings
In the category of Social and Economic Factors (based on high school graduation, some college, unemployment, children in poverty, income inequality, children in single-parent households, social association, violent crime, and injury deaths), Salem County was ranked 14th from 2014 to 2016.