Although somewhat cut off by water, Salisbury is centrally located amongst the Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Norfolk, Virginia areas. It is still a 100-plus mile drive to these cities, but they are close enough to provide the cultural amenities and services missing locally, Downtown is clean and well kept with some historic interest, and the city is a center for health and education for the southern Delmarva area.

Salisbury lies in a mostly level plain about 12 miles from Chesapeake Bay. Surrounding land is mainly agricultural. The Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay create a mild climate for the latitude and region. Summers are warm and humid but with temperatures only occasionally exceeding 90. Cloudy days are common, and rain can come as persistent light rain drizzle or thundershowers with approaching cold fronts. Winters are also mild with only infrequent colder snaps. Winter precipitation is usually rain, or a mix of rain and snow. Atlantic hurricanes and “noreasters” can bring heavier precipitation and lowland flooding is a risk. First freeze is late October, last is mid-April.