What is the average apartment size in Salem?

The average size for a Salem, VA apartment is 913 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Salem?

As of Oct / 2025, the average rent in Salem is $1,345 per month, a 8.31% increase from last year’s average of $1,241.

What is the average apartment size in Salem?

The typical apartment in Salem offers about 913 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

Salem, VA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Salem?

The typical rent budget in Salem ranges from $1,001 to $1,500 per month, with 72% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Salem?

In Salem, 36% of households rent while 64% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: November 18, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Salem is $1,345, a 8.31% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,241.

One-bedroom apartments provide 729 square feet for $1,155, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $1,351 offer 914 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,139 sq ft) for $1,542, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Salem, VA

Last updated: November 18, 2025

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$1,345	913 sq. ft.
Studio	n/a	n/a
1 Bed	$1,155	729 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$1,351	914 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$1,542	1,139 sq. ft.

Salem, VA rent trends

Rental prices in Salem, VA have increased by 8.31% over the past year. The average rent moved from $1,241 to $1,345.

What's the typical rent budget in Salem, VA?

The largest share of rentals in Salem, VA (72%) fall between $1,001-$1,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Salem, VA?

3,699 or 36% of the households in Salem, VA are renter-occupied while 6,441 or 64% are owner-occupied.

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

How Salem Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Richmond	$1,583
Arlington	$2,667
Alexandria	$2,158
Charlottesville	$2,091
Newport News	$1,424
Norfolk	$1,552
Virginia Beach	$1,728
Roanoke	$1,328
Woodbridge	$2,080
Henrico	$1,581
Blacksburg, VA	$2,217
Radford, VA	$1,339
Christiansburg, VA	$1,600
Salem	$1,345

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Salem apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.