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Living in
Selma.
About
Life in Selma
Living in Selma means embracing a place with profound historical significance and one of Alabama's most affordable cost of living situations—median rent around $713 a month and home values near $96,500—but it also means being honest about economic realities that have shaped the city for decades. The job market centers on manufacturing (International Paper, Hyundai, Lear equipment) and a growing civil rights heritage tourism sector, though opportunities remain limited compared to larger Alabama cities, and you might find yourself commuting an average of 24 minutes for work. What keeps people here is community rooted in real place and history—Selma's African-American majority (80% of the population) has deep cultural ties, and the city is anchored by institutions like Selma University and Wallace Community College, plus the largest contiguous historic district in the state with over 1,250 contributing structures that tell the full, complex story of America.
Selma at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.8%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
83.1%
of households
Population Growth
-10.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Nigeria
Who lives in Selma: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Selma, the largest foreign-born group is from Nigeria (31.8%), and 2.0% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
24.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.3%
of households
Married Couples
22.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.09
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% below AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Selma
In Selma, rent runs 29% below the AL average, and home values are 54% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$445
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $73,372 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts above AL average
Unemployment in Selma
Unemployment in Selma is 1.9 percentage points higher than the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Selma Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.7 min avg
How Selma residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Selma, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport (MGM)
Regional airport · few flights201k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 123% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Selma runs 123% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
733.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,924.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Selma Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
70.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dallas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dallas County, which includes Selma, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 5 | Drought | $500 |
| 2023 | 10 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2022 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Tornado | None reported |
| 2018 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dallas County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate92°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Selma has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
61°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.4"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
40
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
93
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 36°F | 5.08" |
| Feb | 63°F | 39°F | 5.35" |
| Mar | 71°F | 46°F | 5.35" |
| Apr | 78°F | 52°F | 4.56" |
| May | 85°F | 61°F | 4.10" |
| Jun | 91°F | 69°F | 4.32" |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 5.11" |
| Aug | 93°F | 71°F | 4.92" |
| Sep | 89°F | 67°F | 3.80" |
| Oct | 80°F | 55°F | 2.66" |
| Nov | 69°F | 43°F | 4.07" |
| Dec | 61°F | 38°F | 5.21" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Selma
Selma has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Selma
Selma's student/teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Selma
Selma has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
20 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
77 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
77 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
79 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Selma
Selma - Dallas County Public Library
1103 Selma Avenue, Selma
Cities Near Selma
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Selma?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Selma FAQ
Is Selma, Alabama affordable?⌄
Selma's median rent is $713/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $33,197/year. Median home value is $96,500.
Is Selma, Alabama safe?⌄
Selma's violent crime rate was 733 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1924 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Selma, Alabama?⌄
Selma has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Selma, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Selma is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $713/month and median household income is $33,197/year. The median home value is $96,500. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Selma, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Selma is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from