Housing data for West Salem Township, PA
West Salem Township, PA has an estimated 3,201 residents and 1,286 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a township in Mercer County.
18.7% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,203 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−5.7%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 3,201 (±20)
- Housing units
- 1,286 (±114)
- Households that rent
- 18.7%
- Median gross rent
- $1,203
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −5.7%
What stands out in West Salem Township
Median gross rent: $1,203 (±$190) in West Salem Township, higher than in Mercer County ($843).
Households that rent: 18.7% (±7.1 points) in West Salem Township, lower than in Mercer County (27.6%).
Housing in West Salem Township at a glance
- Median rent: $1,203 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $1,378 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 62.4% of renters pay 30% or more of income (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Renters and owners: 18.7% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $54,688 median household income
- Home values: $159,400 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $1,294 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $1,732 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 6.4% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 64.0% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 69.2% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 7.0% rental vacancy rate (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Heating fuel: 43.0% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 27.1 minutes average trip to work
- Growth: −5.7% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 17.5% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 1.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room (Small sample: wide margin of error)
West Salem Township against Mercer County, its state and the nation
| West Salem Township | Mercer County | Pennsylvania | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 3,201 (±20) | 109,257 (exact) | 13,018,639 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 1,286 (±114) | 50,930 (±117) | 5,806,452 (±672) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 18.7% (±7.1 points) | 27.6% (±1.3 points) | 30.7% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,203 (±$190) | $843 (±$35) | $1,209 (±$5) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $54,688 (±$9,849) | $59,976 (±$1,687) | $77,971 (±$342) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $159,400 (±$25,681) | $164,000 (±$3,160) | $254,500 (±$767) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $1,732 (±$618) | $1,936 (±$51) | $3,311 (±$12) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 69.2% (±19.0 points) | 72.5% (±2.2 points) | 67.3% (±0.2 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 27.1 minutes (±7.0) | 21.7 minutes (±0.8) | 26.3 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 80.1% (±8.3 points) | 85.7% (±1.3 points) | 89.7% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 56.1 years (±7.0) | 45.1 years (±0.3) | 40.9 years (±0.2) | 38.9 years |
West Salem Township covers 36.9 square miles of land, about 87 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How West Salem Township has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 3,395 (±15) | 3,201 (±20) | −5.7% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 1,561 (±161) | 1,286 (±114) | −17.6% | Measurable decrease |
| Median gross rent | $931 (±$148) | $1,203 (±$190) | +29.2% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median home value | $119,500 (±$12,150) | $159,400 (±$25,681) | +33.4% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median household income | $49,792 (±$9,217) | $54,688 (±$9,849) | +9.8% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $1,067 (±$116) | $1,294 (±$224) | +21.3% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $1,662 (±$207) | $1,732 (±$618) | +4.2% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Households that rent | 17.9% (±7.6 points) | 18.7% (±7.1 points) | +0.8 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% (±9.2 points) | 7.0% (±10.4 points) | +7.0 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Mercer County
West Salem Township has no police department of its own in the FBI’s figures, so this is the figure for Mercer County as a whole.
In 2025, the police departments that report for Mercer County recorded 169 violent and 762 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
A county-wide figure describes the whole county, not this place; crime varies from one community to the next.
ZIP codes in West Salem Township
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16125 | 32% | 17,178 | $786 | $150,200 | $54,787 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near West Salem Township
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 3.7 mi | $626 | $115,100 | 36.5% |
| Greene Township (Mercer County) | 4.2 mi | $1,271 | $238,200 | 7.2% |
| Reynolds Heights | 4.9 mi | $700 | $111,700 | 31.5% |
| Hempfield Township (Mercer County) | 5.0 mi | $881 | $172,600 | 28.2% |
| Orangeville | 5.4 mi | — | $164,600 | 43.1% |
| Pymatuning Township | 5.5 mi | $698 | $119,300 | 20.0% |
| Jamestown | 5.8 mi | $808 | $87,600 | 42.5% |
| South Pymatuning Township | 6.2 mi | $870 | $180,700 | 15.3% |
Places in Pennsylvania most like West Salem Township
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township (Bradford County) | $1,083 | $147,100 | $57,778 | 15.7% |
| Lebanon South | $1,082 | $209,200 | $63,697 | 17.5% |
| Union Township (Washington County) | $981 | $178,700 | $61,071 | 15.8% |
| Noxen Township | $1,130 | $179,200 | $68,229 | 17.4% |
| Pike Township (Potter County) | $1,299 | $179,800 | $52,500 | 27.5% |
| Exeter | $981 | $146,800 | $57,639 | 22.9% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Pennsylvania.
HUD Fair Market Rent for West Salem Township, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $716 | $810 | $1,028 | $1,423 | $1,615 |
HUD income limits for West Salem Township, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $18,100 | $30,200 | $48,300 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $34,500 | $55,200 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $38,800 | $62,100 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $43,100 | $68,950 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $46,550 | $74,500 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $53,450 | $85,500 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $56,900 | $91,050 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Mercer County, PA, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $83,600.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about West Salem Township
What is the average rent in West Salem Township, PA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in West Salem Township is $1,203 (±$190) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in West Salem Township?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in West Salem Township, PA is $528 (±$438) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in West Salem Township?
West Salem Township has an estimated 226 (±91) renting households, 18.7% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in West Salem Township?
The median household income in West Salem Township is $54,688 (±$9,849) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in West Salem Township, PA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $159,400 (±$25,681) for owner-occupied homes in West Salem Township (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average mortgage payment in West Salem Township?
The Census Bureau publishes total owner costs rather than the mortgage alone: the median for owners with a mortgage in West Salem Township, PA is $1,294 (±$224) a month, including taxes, insurance and utilities.
Is West Salem Township growing?
In West Salem Township, the number of residents went from 3,395 in 2015–2019 to 3,201 in 2020–2024 (−5.7%), a measurable decrease.
What ZIP codes are in West Salem Township?
The ZIP code that covers West Salem Township is 16125.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 16125?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 16125 is $786 (±$53) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Mercer County, PA
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Mercer County, PA
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for West Salem township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania (county subdivision:83976, in state:42 county:085).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .