United States › Alabama › Selma CITY · 2020 ACS
Selma Alabama · 17,971 residents · 13.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 17,971 people, Selma is a city in Alabama. The poverty rate is 36.2%, above the 12.8% national rate. Owners hold 45% of the housing stock. Households here earn about 49% less than in Alabama as a whole. Median home value sits at $90,500. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 18K 20K 22K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Selma Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $26,581
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,261 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,369 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 31.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 5.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Education & health services 0.5%
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$90,500
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$645
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $343 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 52.5% in 2000
55.4% rent
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 28.6%(5,875)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(138)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 14.3%(2,573)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(134)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 18.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 82.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 51.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 16.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 44.8%(2,656)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 21.4%(181)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.5%(148)
Share of the 845 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Selma Head to head
Compare Selma to nearby cities SELMA VS
Prattville
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Home value $214,600 +137%
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SELMA VS
Clanton
Income $47,520 +79%
Home value $166,300 +84%
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SELMA VS
Millbrook
Income $70,313 +165%
Home value $207,100 +129%
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SELMA VS
Montgomery
Income $56,811 +114%
Home value $161,900 +79%
Population 195,300 +1115%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Selma, Alabama? Selma, Alabama has about 17,971 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Selma, Alabama? The typical household in Selma, Alabama earns about $26,581 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 $90,500, and the typical rent is about $645 a month.
How educated are people in Selma, Alabama? About 20.2% 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 36.2% of people in Selma, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.
Has Selma, Alabama grown since 1990? Yes, Selma, Alabama has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,784 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.
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