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Salem

Salem

Rural Neighborhood in Connecticut

New London County 06420

$460,670 Average Value
$248 Average Price per Sq Ft
7 Homes For Sale

Rural, countryside lifestyle blends with an active community

A rich agricultural heritage and surrounding waves of open fields, wetlands and rolling hills make it clear to see why residents of Salem are drawn to the town’s bucolic setting in eastern Connecticut. However, the town’s active community and robust calendar of events maintain its close-knit feel. “Salem is a sweet, small town with a rural feel,” says Veronique Chechile, a librarian at the Salem Free Public Library who moved to Salem 5 years ago with her family. “We love the community. There are a lot of wonderful, dedicated people who love the town.” Paired with top-rated schools, a handful of well-loved local eateries and rustic homes that add to the town’s idyllic charm, Salem offers a countryside lifestyle just 12 miles from Norwich.

Salem is surrounded by lush green rolling hills.
Salem is surrounded by lush green rolling hills.
Stop into Meagog Market for the freshest produce in Salem.
Stop into Meagog Market for the freshest produce in Salem.
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Visit the Salem Free Public Library for local events and the latest releases.
Visit the Salem Free Public Library for local events and the latest releases.

Events for all ages at the library and Salem’s Apple Festival

The close-knit community bands together during the town’s wide range of events, including the Salem Memorial Day Parade and Salem Road Race 5K. The Salem Free Public Library serves the community through an array of events. “The library puts on a lot of events that are typical for a library,” Chechile says. “For the size library we are, we offer a ton of programs and learning opportunities.” She notes that the annual garden party and seed library is an especially popular event, as well as the annual Used Book Sale, which both attract swaths of local and regional readers. The library also hosts an array of year-round classes, workshops and programs for all ages. “The kids programs fill up quickly and are very popular and well-attended,” Chechile adds. When the leaves change color in the fall, Salem prepares for its most popular event of the year. “One of the biggest events is the Apple Fest, which is like Salem’s official fall festival,” Chechile says. “People come out and are waiting in line for it to open at the beginning of the day.” Taking place annually at the end of October, the fest consists of apple-themed treats, local vendors, arts and crafts, and live music.

Outdoor recreation amidst Connecticut’s forests and ponds

A spiderweb of creeks flows through Salem, and a handful of ponds create craters in the village’s landscape, offering an abundance of outdoor recreation amidst the natural Connecticut terrain. Chechile says the town brims with hiking trails, including the 1-mile Salem Multipurpose Trail that runs through downtown. Located along Salem’s east side, Gardner Lake features nature trails and hiking paths around the scenic waterside, and it also appeals to recreational boaters and anglers eager to catch bass and catfish. Campers enjoy the many campgrounds strewn across the town, including Witch Meadow Lake Campground and Salem Farms Campground. Devil’s Hopyard State Park spans 860 acres west of Salem, with hiking trails that snake through forests and lead to the 60-foot-high Chapman Falls. In town, Round Hill Park provides athletic fields, baseball diamonds and paved courts for basketball and tennis. Chechile says residents also take advantage of the school’s amenities. “We have two really beautiful playgrounds and a great track at the school that people are allowed to use when school is not in session,” she says. “My kids love to go to the playground, and residents run the track often.”

Visit Gardner Lake for a delightful outing.
Visit Gardner Lake for a delightful outing.
Kids can enjoy the playground at Round Hill Park in Salem while parents enjoy the shade.
Kids can enjoy the playground at Round Hill Park in Salem while parents enjoy the shade.
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Rustic architectural styles add to Salem’s rural charm

Set among the town’s wooded hills and farmland, single-family homes perch on larger properties with ample space between neighbors, adding to Salem’s rural feel. Transitional colonial styles are most common, varying in size and peppered between classic ranch-style homes and smaller split-levels. Country Cape Cods also make up a large part of the housing inventory here, many featuring Dutch Colonial influences such as gambrel roofing and dormer windows. Prices for single-family homes typically range between $150,000 and $800,000, though outliers include waterfront estates along Gardner Lake that fetch up to $6 million.

Classic Colonials can be found tucked into the woods all round salem.
Classic Colonials can be found tucked into the woods all round salem.
A variety of home styles can be found along Gardner Lake in Salem.
A variety of home styles can be found along Gardner Lake in Salem.
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A-rated schools in New London County

Salem Elementary School serves just under 400 students in kindergarten through eighth grades and boasts an A from Niche. Ranked as the No. 1 best public middle school in New London County, the school also has high marks in Teachers and Academics. After graduating, students can matriculate to East Lyme High School. The A-rated high school offers a range of courses and electives, from STEM to Humanities.

Salem Elementary receives an overall score of A from niche.
Salem Elementary receives an overall score of A from niche.
Welcome to East Lyme High School located in East Lyme, CT.
Welcome to East Lyme High School located in East Lyme, CT.
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Local stores, antique shops and Salem’s collection of eateries

A cluster of locales in the town’s center offers conveniences close to home. Two antique stores - 2 Sisters Trading Post and Another Man’s Treasure - stock their shelves with unique finds. Dollar General and Henny Penny Convenience Store fulfill everyday necessities, but Chechile says residents usually head to Colchester or Norwich for groceries and other needs, depending on where in town they live. Italian classics like pasta dishes and stuffed calzones are on the menu at The Plum Tomato, while Two Brothers Pizza serves traditional pizza pies and stacked subs. Salem Prime Cuts is a butcher shop with a deli counter that Chechile says is popular among residents. Folks can start their day with a cup of coffee from Wicked Southern Coffee and enjoy happy hour at Fox Farm Brewery after a long workday. For a sweet treat, locals head to Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream. The seasonally open shop has been a longstanding mainstay since 1988, serving homemade ice cream in a rainbow of unique flavors from their classic red barn location off Haddam Road.

Pick through the amazing antiques at 2 Sisters Trading Post in Salem.
Pick through the amazing antiques at 2 Sisters Trading Post in Salem.
Visit Fox Farm Brewery for amazing local craft brews in Salem.
Visit Fox Farm Brewery for amazing local craft brews in Salem.
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At the crossroads of Routes 82 and 85

State Routes 85 and 82 cross through Salem and link to Route 11. Norwich is a 12-mile drive via Route 82, and Colchester is a 7-mile drive north via Route 85. The town is equidistant from both Route 2 and Interstate 395. For further travel, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is 61 miles from Salem.

Route 85 runs north-south right through Salem.
Route 85 runs north-south right through Salem.
Routes 85 and 82 converge in central Salem.
Routes 85 and 82 converge in central Salem.
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Christina von Claparede-Crola
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Colin Gee
Photography Contributed By
Colin Gee
Tyler Newbold
Video By
Tyler Newbold

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Kristopher Tramont, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Salem US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 1 4
Robbery 1 4
Burglary 1 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 1 4
Larceny 1 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$432,500
Median Single Family Price
$479,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$127,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$117,500
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$248
Number of Homes for Sale
7
Last 12 months Home Sales
58
Months of Supply
1.40
Median List Price
$419,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-2%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,503
Median Year Built
1985
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,904
On par with the national average
1,937
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,496
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
804
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
693
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
52,272

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Kristopher Tramont, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
4,295
Median Age
44
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
22.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$115,215
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$132,668

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
98.5%
College Graduates
55.8%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
23.8%
% Population in Labor Force
77.4%
Above the national average
65.1%

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

19 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

1 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Salem