Ready for adventure? Explorers are realizing their career goals and personal aspirations in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Salem, a progressive metro mountain community, offers immense outdoor recreational opportunities, a stable career environment, and a supportive and enriching community. The welcome mat is long and wide for Explorers relocating to Salem and the Roanoke Valley, an area with more than 330,000 residents spread between several cities.
The metropolitan area is the medical and research center of Southwest Virginia and provides residents with all of the amenities and cultural attractions of a big mountain town and the charm and appeal of a small mountain town. Explorers will enjoy a world-class symphony, opera, museums, nightlife, and entertainment. Plus, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine consistently votes the region “Best Place to Raise an Outdoor Family.” Explorers are also just a short drive east to the beach and north to the nation’s capital Washington, D.C. Salem residents enjoy all four seasons, with the coldest temperatures in January (averages 26.1°F (-3.3°C) to 41.2°F (5.1°C)) and the hottest in July (averages between 62.6°F (17°C) to 86.5°F (30.3°C).
Medical Facilities
There are several medical facilities in the Roanoke Valley area, including U.S. News & World Report No. 5 ranked Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, high performing in one specialty and 14 procedures and conditions, Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital, and VA Salem Healthcare.
Quality of Life
- Cost of Living: 12.2 percent below the national rate
- Population: 25,523 based on the 2020 Census estimate
- Median Home Sale Price: $286,000
- Average Rent: $975
- Median Household Income: $66,472
- Per Capita Income: $36,244
- Live below the poverty line: 10.0 percent
- Median Age: 41.2 years
- Average commute time: 19.4 minutes
Education
Explorers can enroll younger family members in Salem City Schools.
- Overall grade: B+ (niche.com)
- Student-Teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Serving: students in Pre-K, K through high school
Southwest Virginia is a hot spot for higher education. Explorers or family members wishing to further their education will find 21 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius of the Roanoke Valley, including Southwest Virginia Community College, Roanoke College, Hollins University, Virginia Western Community College, Virginia Tech, and American National University.
Transportation
Explorers will want their own vehicle to move about the greater Salem/Roanoke area. However, public transportation is available via Valley Metro. Check the website for schedules and routes.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport Explorers can catch daily flights to Washington, D.C., Charlotte, NC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Top Attractions
Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace Discover the people, traditions, food, music, and crafts that make this region one of the most interesting and beautiful in the country. The 29,000-square-foot center is home to more than 180 artisans selling crafts from traditional pottery to paintings and glasswork.
Dixie Caverns Open to the public since 1923, grab a sweater or light jacket (the caverns are 55°F) and take a 45-minute walking tour of the living formations in and under the mountain, viewing stalagmites and stalactites.
The Appalachian Trail Explore the 2,190+ mile-long public trail through the Appalachian Mountains’ wooded, pastoral, and wild lands. Conceived in 1921 and built by private citizens, the trail stretches through 14 states, with Georgia on the southern end and Maine on the northern end.
Salem Red Sox Explorers will enjoy big league action without the big-league prices at a Salem Red Sox Minor League game. Salem is the affiliate team of the Boston Red Sox and boasts future stars in their roster.
Annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Get into the holiday spirit on the first Friday of December at the Salem Christmas Tree lighting on Library Square and the Christmas Parade in downtown Salem. Explorers will enjoy floats, bands, performers, and Santa Claus.
Blue Ridge Parkway Each year, millions of visitors cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway, visiting the highest mountain peak in the eastern U.S. (Mount Mitchell), the oldest river in North America (New River), the highest waterfall east of the Rockies (Whitewater Falls), and the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon (Linville Gorge). Explorers can experience the beauty of nature and get some pretty good shots all along the Parkway.
Roanoke Star Get a pic in front of the largest, free-standing, illuminated star in the world perched atop Mill Mountain overlooking the valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The star is illuminated every night and serves as a welcoming sign to visitors.
Mountain Biking Hit the trails and take advantage of the mountain biking capital of the East Coast. Neighboring Roanoke is the only community on the East Coast with an International Mountain Bicycling Association Silver-Level Ride Center designation. Ride single-speed, downhill, or cross-country trails.
Shopping Whether you’re looking for makeup, a new pair of boots, or vintage home décor, there are plenty of spots to get everything on your list. Downtown Salem is home to boutiques, a farmer’s market, antique shops, and more, and Explorers will find some of their favorite big-name stores at Valley View Mall in neighboring Roanoke.
Nightlife Live music is a big feature of the Salem/Roanoke Valley nightlife scene, along with locally brewed beer and craft cocktails. The adventurous can head out on the downtown Roanoke Bar Crawl through the city’s historic district.
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