Salem, NJ Housing Affordability Index
Salem, New Jersey has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 133.2 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 21st most affordable of 455 scored New Jersey cities, compared with 83.4 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $79,800 home with 20% down, the New Jersey average 30-year fixed rate of 7.27% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $436, or 14% of the city’s $38,721 median household income.
The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Salem is updated every night from live New Jersey mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.
Salem is 49.8 points above the New Jersey score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the New Jersey index
View Salem Mortgage RatesSee What You Can Afford in Salem, New Jersey
Use this Salem, New Jersey home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s New Jersey average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.27%. A household earning the Salem median income of $38,721, with no other debts and $16,000 down, can afford a home of about $89,368, compared with a median home value of $79,800. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $32,900 once property tax and insurance are counted.
| Loan amount | $73,368 |
| Principal & interest | $501/mo |
| Property tax | $334/mo |
| Home insurance | $37/mo |
| PMI | $31/mo |
| Total monthly payment | $903/mo |
How much house can you afford in Salem?
Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.
In Salem, property taxes run about 4.49% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $1,080 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.
What It Takes to Buy in Salem
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Salem, New Jersey. The rate is the New Jersey average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.
How Salem Ranks in New Jersey
Cite the Salem Score
Explore Further
Scores update each morning, computed from rate data captured the previous night. Score of 100 = national average at a 6.5% reference rate.
