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Living in
Selma.
About
Life in Selma
Selma is a Central Valley city south of Fresno that calls itself the Raisin Capital of the World, and farming still shapes it: agriculture employs about 13% of working residents. Housing costs less than much of California, with a median home value of $315,300 and rent around $1,232 a month. Incomes are modest, with a median household income of $60,241 and poverty around 19%.
Selma at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Foreign-Born
25.7%
Broadband Internet
87.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Selma: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Selma, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (87.6%), and 49.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.0%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.3%
of households
Married Couples
42.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.32
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 39% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Selma
In Selma, rent runs 39% below the CA average, and home values are 57% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,621
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $361,839 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Selma and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fresno County, which includes Selma, is 3 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Selma: Fresno County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fresno County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Selma is about 2% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Selma Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Fresno, CA metro area
Commute24.1 min avg
How Selma residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Selma, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Small hub1.4M 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 58% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Selma runs 58% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
519.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,227.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Selma Police Department
Natural DisastersDense Fog most common — 59 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fresno County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fresno County, which includes Selma, the most common type is dense fog, with 59 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | Dense Fog | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 112 | Dense Fog | $1.0M |
| 2023 | 107 | Dense Fog | $9.6M |
| 2022 | 95 | Dense Fog | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 59 | Dense Fog | $50,200 |
| 2020 | 6 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 24 | Flood | $645,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | 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.
133 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fresno County, county-wide
Selma is about 2% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality61 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fresno County, which includes Selma, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
61
Good Days
105
per year
Moderate Days
226
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Fresno County, county-wide
Selma is about 2% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate100°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Selma has hot summers (avg high 100°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
100°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
10.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
123
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
13
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
47
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 38°F | 2.27" |
| Feb | 67°F | 42°F | 1.89" |
| Mar | 73°F | 45°F | 2.24" |
| Apr | 79°F | 49°F | 1.00" |
| May | 88°F | 56°F | 0.55" |
| Jun | 96°F | 62°F | 0.18" |
| Jul | 102°F | 68°F | 0.03" |
| Aug | 101°F | 67°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 96°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 85°F | 53°F | 0.56" |
| Nov | 71°F | 44°F | 0.96" |
| Dec | 61°F | 38°F | 2.03" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Selma
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Selma's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Reedley
Acute Care Hospitals · 9.4 mi away · Reedley
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.
Education21.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Selma
Selma's student/teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 10.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Selma (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,544 students · in-state tuition $37,760 · 67% graduate · median earnings $66,140 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Selma
Selma has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
National Parks
58 mi awayDevils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
78 mi awayManzanar National Historic Site
National Historic Site
82 mi awayPinnacles National Park
National Park
87 mi awayYosemite National Park
National Park
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Selma
Selma Branch Library
2200 Selma St., 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, California affordable?⌄
Selma's median rent is $1,232/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,241/year. Median home value is $315,300.
Is Selma, California safe?⌄
Selma's violent crime rate was 520 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1228 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Selma, California?⌄
Fresno County, which includes Selma, has an unemployment rate of 8.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Selma, California?⌄
The cost of living in Selma is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,232/month and median household income is $60,241/year. The median home value is $315,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Selma, California?⌄
The average commute in Selma is 24 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