CensusEasy
CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Selma

Alabama · 23,755 residents · 13.8 sq mi
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The short version

With 23,755 people, Selma is a city in Alabama. The poverty rate is 35.7%, above the 13.2% national rate. Households here earn about 33% less than in Alabama as a whole. Median home value sits at $44,500. 53% of homes are owner-occupied. The median household earns $15,917, about 47% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 5%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

23,755
+16%vs 2000
vs 20,512 in 2000
1990 – 2025
32.4
−11%vs 2000
vs 36.2 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
13.8 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K18K20K22K24K19902000201020202024Selma
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.7%(1,834)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 99.3%(2,198)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(1,871)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 199.1%(2,157)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.8%(1,386)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3413.8%(3,280)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.3%(3,148)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.6%(2,039)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.6%(2,039)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.5%(2,010)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.6%(1,333)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(460)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$15,917
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $21,261 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$8,844
−34%vs 2000
vs $13,369 in 2000
US average: $14,340
35.7%
+4.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 31.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$44,500
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $61,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$264
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $343 in 2000
US average: $450
53.4%
+0.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 52.5% in 2000
46.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic28.6%(5,875)
Black69.4%(14,242)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(138)
Asian0.6%(113)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic41.1%(9,764)
Black58.5%(13,902)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(15)
Asian0.2%(50)
Other0.2%(39)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.4%(63)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.6%(106)
Vietnamese0.5%(78)
Ancestry
English4.7%(794)
American4.5%(770)
Nigerian2.6%(436)
German2.1%(365)
West Indian1.7%(296)
Irish1.7%(288)
Jamaican1.7%(284)
French0.9%(160)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(126)
Scottish0.7%(112)
Arab0.2%(32)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.2%(32)
Italian0.2%(29)
Welsh0.2%(28)
Polish0.1%(20)
Swedish0.1%(12)
Barbadian0.1%(12)
Swiss0.1%(11)
Greek0%(4)
Section 05

Education

15.6%
−2.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 18.4% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
60.5%
−12.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 72.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
6.1%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.7 min
+1%vs 2000
vs 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married44.8%(2,656)
Married33.7%(2,000)
Widowed6.7%(395)
Divorced14.8%(877)
Women 15+
Never married38%(3,025)
Married29.1%(2,316)
Widowed14.3%(1,143)
Divorced18.6%(1,485)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

8.4%
−8.3 ptssince 2013
from 16.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
34.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 33.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2020
from 11.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
20.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 19.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
40.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 38.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
49.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 47.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
55.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 54.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)16.7%(128)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.7%(174)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.3%(331)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.4%(18)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 765 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Selma, Alabama?

Selma, Alabama has about 23,755 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Selma, Alabama?

The typical household in Selma, Alabama earns about $15,917 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Selma, Alabama expensive?

In Selma, Alabama, the median home is worth about $44,500, and the typical rent is about $264 a month.

How educated are people in Selma, Alabama?

About 15.6% of adults age 25 and over in Selma, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Selma, Alabama?

About 35.7% of people in Selma, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →