United States › North Carolina › Selma CITY
Selma North Carolina · 7,406 residents (2025 est.) · 5.41 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 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Selma is a city of 6,817 people in North Carolina. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 43% of the housing stock. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 43%. 24.7% of people here live below the federal poverty line. The median age is 34.1, younger than the US median of 38.9.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 5,914 in 2000
7,406 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,261 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1,262 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 5K 6K 6K 7K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Selma Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $41,368
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,856 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,101 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.3%
Public administration 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$171,600
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$820
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 46.1% in 2000
56.9% rent
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.24 people
−14%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.0 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 39.2%(2,321)
Hispanic / Latino 19%(1,125)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 25.8%(1,757)
Hispanic / Latino 23.3%(1,590)
from 83 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 63.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 72.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 69.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 28.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 51.7%(1,804)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 27.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 59.1% 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) 7.9%(34)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.3%(96)
Share of the 430 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
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Selma, North Carolina? Selma, North Carolina has about 6,817 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Selma, North Carolina? The typical household in Selma, North Carolina earns about $41,368 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Selma, North Carolina expensive? In Selma, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $171,600, and the typical rent is about $820 a month.
How educated are people in Selma, North Carolina? About 13.8% of adults age 25 and over in Selma, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Selma, North Carolina? About 24.7% of people in Selma, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Selma, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Selma, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,217 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.
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