City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Selma, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Selma - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,611
Residents
$37,440
Median income
$161,100
Median home
$1,750
Median rent (state)

Selma - the verdict

Nationally, Selma sits in the 6th percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

6th
percentile, household income
30th
percentile, home value
71st
percentile, median rent
11th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Selma, NC

North Carolina's Selma is a small town, with 6,611 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Selma households earn a median of $37,440 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.9%. Typical homes in Selma are valued around $161,100, and the median resident age is 33.6 years. 12.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Selma's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3437.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,750 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 85.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

6,611 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$37,440 /yr

Poverty 25.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Selma compare to other US cities?

Where Selma sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 30% pricier than other cities
Median rent 71% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Selma ranks #132 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Selma against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Selma's strongest outlier among North Carolina cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Selma ranks #1 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Selma only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#611 of 700
13th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 746
96th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#449 of 708
37th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#88 of 746
88th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#595 of 746
20th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

6thIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Selma's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Selma's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 22 Avg. percentile National median
Selma's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Selma's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$161,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Selma $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Selma, NC Selma, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Selma, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Selma, NC median $37,440/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Selma, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Selma, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,611
Median Income
$37,440
Median Home Value
$161,100
Median Age
33.6
Poverty Rate
25.9%
Labor force participation
55.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3437.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1049.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2388.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,000 residents6,500 residents7,000 residents7,500 residents8,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,362 residents 7,406 residents ▲ +16.4%
Selma's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.4%
Carpool
6.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
1.0%

Based on 2,789 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Selma sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,750/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Carolina Beach
6,665 people
Marvin
6,542 people
East Flat Rock
6,468 people
Unionville
6,826 people
St. James
6,901 people
Silver Lake
6,242 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Selma's 6,611 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lynchburg, TN
6,611 people
Buena Vista, VA
6,612 people
Oakdale, LA
6,614 people
Black Jack, MO
6,606 people
Jamul, CA
6,617 people
Green Hill, TN
6,617 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Selma's $37,440 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Magnolia, MS
$37,447 median income
Griggsville, IL
$37,457 median income
Sunrise Shores, TX
$37,462 median income
Davis City, IA
$37,417 median income
Tompkinsville, KY
$37,405 median income
Riverview, AL
$37,404 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Selma, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Selma, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.1% 43.1% 13.9% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 30.4% White 35.1% Black or African American 43.1% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 1.2% Some other race 13.9% Two or more races 6.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Selma compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Selma (this city) 6,611 $37,440
Carolina Beach 6,665 $88,239
Marvin 6,542 $250,001
East Flat Rock 6,468 $59,679
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Selma, NC?

What is the population of Selma, NC? +

Selma, NC has a population of 6,611 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Selma, NC? +

Median annual household income in Selma runs $37,440, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Selma? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Selma; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Selma, NC safe? +

Selma has a total crime rate of 3437.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Selma, NC? +

Homes in Selma carry a median value of $161,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.