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CITY · 2020 ACS

Selma

North Carolina · 6,317 residents · 5.41 sq mi
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The short version

With 6,317 people, Selma is a city in North Carolina. 37% of homes are owner-occupied. 35.3% of people here live below the federal poverty line. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Households here earn about 59% less than in North Carolina as a whole. The median age is 33.3, younger than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% 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

6,317
+7%since 2000
from 5,914 in 2000
1990 – 2025
33.3
+7%since 2000
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
5.41 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K5K6K6K7K19902000201020202024Selma
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 58.3%(525)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98%(507)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 149%(567)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.6%(483)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(382)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.4%(845)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.4%(784)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(745)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 649.8%(621)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.5%(538)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843.8%(241)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.3%(79)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$23,161
−35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,856 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$14,794
+22%since 2000
from $12,101 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
9.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
35.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information22.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade16.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade10.3%
US avg: 10%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2%
Finance & insurance1.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$110,600
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$697
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $486 in 2000
US average: $1,124
36.6%
−9.5 ptssince 2000
from 46.1% in 2000
63.4% rent
2.71 people
+4%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
4.8
+19%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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic39.2%(2,321)
Black40%(2,363)
Hispanic / Latino19%(1,125)
Asian0.2%(10)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic22.2%(1,400)
Black36%(2,271)
Hispanic / Latino37.7%(2,381)
Asian0.5%(33)
Other0.8%(54)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican19.1%(1,330)
Puerto Rican6.3%(441)
Honduran2.9%(201)
Salvadoran1.8%(128)
Guatemalan1.1%(74)
Nicaraguan0.5%(38)
Ancestry
American4.1%(283)
English2.6%(181)
German2%(138)
Scotch-Irish1.6%(110)
West Indian0.4%(30)
Jamaican0.4%(30)
Hungarian0.4%(25)
French0.3%(24)
Canadian0.3%(23)
Irish0.3%(20)
Portuguese0.2%(16)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.2%(13)
Scottish0.2%(13)
Dutch0.2%(12)
Swiss0.2%(12)
Section 05

Education

11.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
78.4%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

23.3 min
+23%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
81.8%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
19.8%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

7.1%
−11.1 ptssince 2011
from 18.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
61.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
72.1%
US average: 73.3%
18.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

40.8%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
59.2%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
13.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
19.4%
−16.8 ptssince 2013
from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.7%
US average: 91.9%
84.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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

19.4%
−16.8 ptssince 2013
from 36.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
27.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
5.9%
US average: 13.7%
19.6%
US average: 17.6%
47.5%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
0.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
31.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
59.1%
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)17.8%(27)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)13.8%(21)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era57.9%(88)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.6%(7)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 152 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 6,317 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Selma, North Carolina?

The typical household in Selma, North Carolina earns about $23,161 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 $110,600, and the typical rent is about $697 a month.

How educated are people in Selma, North Carolina?

About 11.5% 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 35.3% 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 1,717 residents, a change of about 37 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 →