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CITY

Selma

North Carolina · 7,406 residents (2025 est.) · 5.41 sq mi
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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

6,817
+15%since 2000
from 5,914 in 2000
7,406 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
1,261 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1,262 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
34.1
+9%since 2000
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
5.41 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K5K6K6K7K19902000201020202024Selma
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.9%(471)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92%(134)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.9%(606)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195%(340)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2411.1%(760)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.9%(1,149)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(867)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.1%(687)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.7%(731)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749%(612)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844%(274)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(186)
US avg: 1.9%
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
1990 – 2024
$24,614
+103%since 2000
from $12,101 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.6%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
24.7%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.461
+13%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information24.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food4.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$171,600
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$820
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,442
43.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 46.1% in 2000
56.9% rent
9.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
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
34.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
61.3%
+17.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
4.1
+3%since 2009
from 4.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
67
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic39.2%(2,321)
Black40%(2,363)
Hispanic / Latino19%(1,125)
Asian0.2%(10)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic25.8%(1,757)
Black45.3%(3,090)
Hispanic / Latino23.3%(1,590)
Asian0.6%(40)
Other5%(340)
84
+1%since 2009
from 83 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican10.8%(735)
Mexican6%(411)
Salvadoran2.4%(167)
Ecuadorian1.5%(100)
Honduran1.2%(84)
Cuban0.8%(55)
Panamanian0.6%(38)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.6%(40)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American6.1%(415)
Irish5.1%(350)
German3.2%(218)
English2.8%(193)
West Indian1.3%(91)
Dutch1.2%(80)
Jamaican1.1%(75)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(59)
Italian0.7%(51)
Scottish0.7%(46)
French0.4%(28)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Nigerian0.4%(28)
Russian0.2%(16)
Hungarian0.2%(15)
Polish0.2%(15)
Swiss0.2%(14)
Norwegian0.1%(10)
Section 05

Education

13.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.8%
+21.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
3.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

31.8 min
+68%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
80.3%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
8.0%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
8.4%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
15.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.9%
−13.3 ptssince 2011
from 18.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
60.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
65.1%
−7.0 ptssince 2020
from 72.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
21.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
24.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

41.9%
−12.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
58.1%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
8.0%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
8.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
16.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
11.4%
−24.8 ptssince 2013
from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
84.4%
+26.9 ptssince 2017
from 57.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
91.9%
+7.2 ptssince 2020
from 84.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
87.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
81.3%
+11.5 ptssince 2016
from 69.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
18.3%
−10.1 ptssince 2016
from 28.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.3%(664)
Married54.9%(1,163)
Widowed1.3%(28)
Divorced12.5%(265)
Women 15+
Never married51.7%(1,804)
Married28.4%(990)
Widowed7.5%(263)
Divorced12.3%(429)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

11.4%
−24.8 ptssince 2013
from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
41.9%
+14.6 ptssince 2020
from 27.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
34.9%
−12.6 ptssince 2020
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 0.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
53.2%
+21.6 ptssince 2020
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.5%
−12.6 ptssince 2020
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.3%(96)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era25.8%(111)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.4%(32)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →