Salem
Strong schools draw families here
The quick answer
Salem is a township, part of Hamilton Community Schools. Homes here typically sell for around $420,000.
14 homes for sale·Median $420K·Walkability 3.5/10·Schools 7.4/10
Late afternoon light hits best here—when the sun drops low enough to paint the rural roads gold and the place stops feeling like you're twenty miles from anywhere. Salem Township spreads across 36 square miles of Allegan County, a genuine mix of working land and homes where most people own their property outright. St. Mary's Visitation Catholic Church, which marked its 150th anniversary in 2016, anchors the township with the kind of permanence that comes from actual roots. The population has grown steadily—from 3,486 in 2000 to just over 5,100 by 2020—but the character remains deliberately rural, not aspirational suburb. A grocer sits about four miles out, and there's a restaurant or two practically at your doorstep, though you're living in the kind of place where you plan errands rather than stumble into them. Downtown Grand Rapids runs about 33 minutes north. Homes here run around $399K. There's a pair of parks within walking distance if you need green space without leaving the township itself. This is the kind of place where you get land, modest but steady growth, and the genuine option to be left alone—which, depending on your temperament, is either the whole appeal or the whole problem.
Why people love it here
Bentheim Elementary School
- Elementary — 4.1 mi away
- Hamilton
- 1 rated school in district
$91K median household income
- $420K median · 37 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Salem
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,851/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
37 homes sold in Salem this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 5 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 9/10
School District: Hamilton Community Schools
Median Income
$91K
Household
Median Sale Price
$420K
37 sales in last 12mo
Expected Rent
$425/mo
$375 – $450 · estimated range
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Park in Friesian Ct Area
Playground in Friesian Ct Area
Goose Lake
Beach in Friesian Ct Area
Sheridan Township Park
Dog Park in Friesian Ct Area
Salem Township Library
Most of Salem is policed by the Allegan County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (433 per 100,000 residents) and burglary (129 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
For perspective, homicide — the most serious crime — was reported at about 0.001% of the population, roughly 1 in 100,000 residents.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 433 |
| Burglary | 129 |
| Aggravated assault | 78 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 58 |
| Rape | 9 |
| Arson | 7 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Homicide | 1 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Allegan County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Allegan County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Salem alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Salem home (around $420,000) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $68k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,541 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Salem household earns $91,186 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $580,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,541/mo | $67,759 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,968/mo | $79,157 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,112/mo | $82,989 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
3 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$56K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$245K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Salem, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Local Government
Salem Township
Source: salemtownship.org · unconfirmed
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$887/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,210 kWh/yr · offsets ~59% of a typical home's use
Private well
Rural township (Burnips area); individual wells.
Septic - individual
Individual septic systems.
Resident-arranged hauler
Curbside trash resident-arranged.
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Standard provider; pockets Great Lakes Energy cooperative.
Confirm by addressSource: salemtownship.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Salem are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Median Income
$91K
Home Value (Census)
$288K
Expected Rent
$425/mo
$375 – $450 · estimated range
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Unnamed park
0.8 mi
Parks Nearby
10
within 1 mile
🍕 Restaurants(3)
🏫 Schools(11)
+6 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(1)
Fitness Center on 138th Ave
Fitness Center
🐕 Dog Parks(1)
Dog Park in Friesian Ct Area
Dog Park
📚 Libraries(1)
Salem Township Library
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Salem? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in Salem: the details
Is Salem a good place to live?
Here is a data-based look at what living in Salem is like. Day to day, it is mostly a drive-first area, so you will use a car for groceries, dining and errands. This township is part of Hamilton Community Schools. The going price is around $420,000.
What does it cost to live in Salem?
Homes in Salem sell for a median of about $420,000. There are 14 homes for sale here right now and 37 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Salem
- What do homes cost in Salem?
- The median home value in Salem is about $420,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Salem housing market?
- there are 14 homes for sale in Salem right now, and 37 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Salem?
- Salem is served by Hamilton Community Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Bentheim Elementary School (9/10).
- Is Salem walkable?
- Salem scores 3.5/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
