Selma, AL

Full City Profile · Alabama · Dallas County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
17,442 Population 1,263/sq mi density
$32,184 Median Income $24,726 per capita
$102,500 Home Value $77,018 Zillow
$723 Median Rent 37.3% income on rent
66°F Avg Temperature
632 Violent Crime/100K 2,657 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
D
Economy
1.5 / 5.0
$32,184 median income, 14.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$102,500 home value, $723/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
632 violent crimes/100K (66% above avg)
C+
Education
2.5 / 5.0
19.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Selma, AL

At a Glance

Median Income
$32,184
57% below
$24,726 per capita
Home Value
$102,500
64% below
Zillow: $77,018
Median Rent
$723/mo
38% below
37.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
632/100K
66% above
2,657/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%
44% below
88.3% high school+
Unemployment
14.4%
300% above
25.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
47.5%
48% above
19.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
66°F

How Selma Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Selma's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
43%
Home Value
36%
Rent
62%
Poverty
207%
Bachelor's
56%
Unemployment
400%
Crime
166%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Selma a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Selma residents earn a median household income of $32,184 , which is 57% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $24,726. The unemployment rate stands at 14.4% (300% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 25.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 976 business establishments, including 54 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Selma is $102,500 , 64% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $77,018. Median rent is $723/month, with 37.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1966.

Safety & Crime

Selma reports 632 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 66% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 2,657/100K.

Education

19.0% of adults in Selma hold a bachelor's degree or higher (44% below the national average). 88.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Selma has an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 54.5 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population17,442
Median Age39.4 yrs
Density1,263/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born3.0%
Veterans6.0%

Economy

D
Median Income$32,184
Per Capita$24,726
Unemployment14.4%
Poverty25.7%
County GDP$1,724M
Avg Weekly Wage$957

Housing

A+
Home Value$102,500
Rent$723
Ownership46.1%
Zillow$77,018
Housing Units9,320
Rent Burden37.3%

Crime

F
Violent632/100K
Property2,657/100K

Health

Obesity47.5%
Diabetes18.8%
Smoking19.7%
Heart Disease7.1%
Premature Death20,427/100K

Climate

Avg Temp66°F
Rain54.5 in/yr
Elevation176 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+19.0%
High School+88.3%
Graduate+7.8%
School Score3.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 33% / D 66%
Commute24 min
Broadband83.4%
Internet Speed106 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries1

Did You Know?

The median home in Selma was built in 1966.
The nearest airport is Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) (38 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.489 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
19.0% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 106 Mbps.
The county recorded 19 fatal vehicle crashes.