Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city of 44,795 people in Essex County, Massachusetts, founded in 1626.
Why visit Salem
Townapedia lists 158 museums and landmarks, 122 parks and trails, 172 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Derby Wharf Light, Cinema Salem, The Witch House and Witch History Museum.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average 18°F, and about 39 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Salem
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Salem
Salem (, SAY-ləm) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one of the most significant seaports for trading commodities in early American history. Prior to the dissolution of county governments in Massachusetts in 1999, it served as one of two county seats for Essex County, alongside Lawrence.
From the Wikipedia article Salem, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Derby Wharf Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
One of four lighthouses used to navigate Salem Sound, the Derby Wharf Light Station is the wharf's only original surviving structure.
Museums and landmarks158
Derby Waterfront District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Gardner-Pingree House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
House of the Seven Gables
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Colonial mansion in Salem, Massachusetts
115 Derby Street, Salem
Abbot Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
United States historic place
Bessie Monroe House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Beverly Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Railway station in Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly Depot-Odell Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Bridge Street Neck Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Capitol Diner
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Restaurant in Massachusetts, United States
Central Square Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic district in Lynn, Massachusetts, United States
146 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds122
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Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
U.S. National Historical Park in Salem, Massachusetts
160 Derby Street, Salem
Derby Wharf
Park · 1.5 mi
Begun in 1762 and completed in 1806, it extends 2,045 feet into the Salem Harbor. At one time, it was home to nearly twenty structures,...
Derby Street, Salem
Forest River Conservation Area
Hiking and trails · 0.5 mi
408 Loring Avenue, Salem
Mo-Su 06:00-20:00
Sydneys Pond Conservation Area
Hiking and trails · 2.4 mi
80 Granite Street, Peabody
Mo-Su 07:30-18:45
110 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes172
Adriatic Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · Mediterranean, Italian · 1.5 mi
155 Washington Street, Salem
Su 12:00-21:30; Mo-We 16:00-22:00; Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:30
Bagel World II
Bakery · Bagel · 0.5 mi
203 Canal Street, Salem
Mo-Fr 06:00-15:30; Sa 06:00-15:00; Su 06:00-14:00
Barrio Tacos
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
41 Lafayette Street, Salem
Mo-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr-Su 11:00-23:00
Bernadette
Restaurant · French, Fine Dining · 1.6 mi
65 Washington Street, Salem
Tu-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-21:30
Bill and Bob's Roast Beef
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
2 Central Street, Peabody
Mo-Th 10:00-02:00, Fr-Sa 10:00-02:30, Su 10:00-01:30
Bonchon Chicken
Restaurant · Chicken, Korean, Sushi · 1.5 mi
299 Essex Street, Salem
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Breaking Grounds
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Pastry · 2.2 mi
67 Main Street, Peabody
Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa-Su 08:00-14:00
Camilla's Cafe & Breakfast
Cafe · Brazilian, Breakfast · 0.7 mi
140 Canal Street, Salem
Mo-Sa 05:00-18:00
Christina's Famous Roast Beef
Restaurant · Greek, Pizza, Sandwich, Burger · 0.9 mi
239 Lafayette Street, Salem
Tu-Su 11:00-20:50
160 more on the map.
Where to stay11
The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
223;225;231 Derby Street
Churches and places of worship34
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 2.4 mi
26 Pleasant Street, Marblehead
Shrine of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Church · Orthodox · 2.1 mi
120-124 Pleasant Street, Marblehead
Immaculate Conception Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.6 mi
15 Hawthorne Boulevard
Shopping72
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries93
Peabody Institute Library
Library · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
82 Main Street, Peabody
Healthcare10
MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
57 Highland Avenue, Salem
Map of Salem
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 3.8 in | 13.3 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 20°F | 3.5 in | 8.5 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 4.7 in | 7.5 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 4.3 in | 1.5 in |
| May | 65°F | 45°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 74°F | 54°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 5.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 4.2 in | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 4.7 in | 7.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Marblehead (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Essex County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-19: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2018-06-25: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Marblehead 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Lynn 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Peabody 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Beverly 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Danvers 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Saugus 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Revere 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Lynnfield 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Melrose 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Malden 10 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Salem Witch House II, SalemPuritan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2006 diner SalemMA 221422500, gailf548 from New York State, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Salem Bike Path, Salem MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Coach House Inn, 284 Lafayette St, Salem (493742) (11128471026), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Alumni Hall, Salem State University, MF1953, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Salem State University, Fletcher6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mayor Anthony Salvo Bike Path, Salem MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Coach House Inn, 284 Lafayette St, Salem (493688) (11128371464), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- The Coach House Inn, 284 Lafayette St, Salem (493746) (11363152084), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- The Coach House Inn, 284 Lafayette St, Salem (493685) (11128295235), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Salem From Castle Hill. (33696181748), Salem State Archives from Salem, Massachusetts, CC BY 2.0
- Ocean Ave, Salem (493747) (11363086746), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Hocus Pocus House, Ocean Ave, Salem (493748) (11363097944), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Salem, Mass, Boston Public Library, CC BY 2.0
- Mayor Anthony Salvo Bike Path billboard, Salem MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery, 285 Derby St, Salem (493778) (11362743674), Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Salem Common in the Spring, Elizabeth B. Thomsen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flooding at Salem station, May 1976, Salem News, CC BY 2.0
- Footbridge remains at old Salem station, May 2012, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Front view of former Salem station, May 2012, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Passengers waiting at Salem station, circa 1980s, Peter Zaharis, CC BY 2.0
- People boating through Salem station, May 1976, Salem State Archives from Salem, Massachusetts, CC BY 2.0
- SalemMA PointNeighborhood Mill, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SalemMA PointNeighborhood 3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SalemMA PointNeighborhood 1, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SalemMA PointNeighborhood 4, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SalemMA PointNeighborhood 2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Passengers boarding at Salem station, January 1981, David Matt, CC BY 2.0
- Derby House, Fletcher6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Derby Wharf Light, Jesse Lee Tucker, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Peabody Institute Library, MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- House of the Seven Gables (front angle) - Salem, Massachusetts, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SalemMA GardnerPingreeHouse 1, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hawkes House Salem MA NPS, National Park Service, Public domain
- ISS017-E-19095 - View of Massachusetts, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- MBTA route 459 bus on Loring Avenue, May 2015, Pi.1415926535, CC BY 3.0
- David Silva linguist January 2020, AlvinsDad, CC BY-SA 4.0
- -Looking Down Lafayette St.- (40621663963), Salem State Archives from Salem, Massachusetts, CC BY 2.0
- W, Marblehead Rail Trail, Marblehead MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sunbeam Inn Swampscott, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
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