Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Salem, VA has a Safety Score of 55/100 — safer than 55% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,550.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,346 of 2,971 US cities and #8 of 38 in Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Salem, Virginia Safe?
Salem, VA, nestled in the Roanoke Valley, is a city with roots tracing back to the 1800s as a railroad town. Home to Roanoke College, it boasts a population of around 25,000 residents.
Salem has a safety score of 55/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,550.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Salem ranks #8 out of 38 cities in Virginia and #1346 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 55th percentile for safety — safer than 55% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Salem is murder, at 7.7 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Salem's total crime rate decreased by 20.4%, with violent crime declining 55%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Salem Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 10 | 38.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 7.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 15.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 4 | 15.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 391 | 1,511.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 21 | 81.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 331 | 1,279.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 39 | 150.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Salem vs Virginia Average
How does Salem's crime rate compare to the Virginia state average?
| Metric | Salem | Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 38.7 | 338.9 | -88.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,511.6 | 2,386.6 | -36.7% |
| Murder Rate | 7.7 | 9.8 | -21.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,550.3 | 2,725.5 | -43.1% |
Salem Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Salem, Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,866 | 1,550.3 | 38.7 | 1,511.6 |
| 2023 | 25,606 | 1,948.8 | 85.9 | 1,862.8 |
| 2022 | 25,460 | 1,853.9 | 125.7 | 1,728.2 |
| 2021 | 25,354 | 1,999.7 | 94.7 | 1,905.0 |
| 2020 | 25,326 | 1,954.5 | 51.3 | 1,903.2 |
| 2019 | 25,590 | 2,274.3 | 89.9 | 2,184.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem, Virginia safe?
Salem has a safety score of 55/100, meaning it has less crime than about 55% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,550.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Salem is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Salem, Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Salem has a violent crime rate of 38.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,511.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Salem compare to the national average?
Salem's total crime rate of 1,550.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 25,866 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Salem?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Salem include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Salem safe to visit?
Like any city, Salem has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 55/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.