The Town FilesSelma, Alabama
City in Dallas County · population 17,971 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,500
- Household income
- $33,197
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.5
Selma is a city of 17,971 people in Dallas County, Alabama. The median home is worth $96,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 94% of Alabama towns, hipper than 94% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 93% of Alabama towns.
How Selma ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Selma is worth $96,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $33,197, which is more affordable than 50% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 46.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Selma | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,500 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $713 | $834 |
| Median household income | $33,197 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Selma
| People | Selma | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Selma
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 35.9°F. About 54.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selma since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 6, 1996 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 69 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 2, 2000.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 11,290 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,753 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Selma itself the ACS puts it at 14%.
Public schools in Selma
16 public schools with 3,317 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma High School | 9-12 | 687 | 17.2 |
| Edgewood Elementary School | K-6 | 407 | 18.5 |
| Meadowview Elementary School | K-6 | 344 | 19.1 |
| Sophia P Kingston Elementary School | PK-6 | 302 | 21.6 |
| The RBHudson STEAM Academy | 7-8 | 299 | 13.6 |
| Southside High School | 9-12 | 278 | 13.9 |
| Brantley Elementary School | PK-6 | 201 | 18.3 |
| Tipton Durant Middle School | 6-8 | 182 | 26.0 |
| Payne Elementary School | PK-6 | 174 | 19.3 |
| Bruce K Craig Elementary School | 3-5 | 162 | 18.0 |
| Southside Primary School | PK-2 | 143 | 17.9 |
| Clark Elementary School | PK-6 | 138 | 17.3 |
Towns near Selma
- Valley Grande, AL4.8 mi · 4,190 people · home $133,100
- Marion, AL22.1 mi · 3,176 people · home $108,700
Selma questions
Is Selma, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Selma scores better for retirees than 47% of Alabama towns and quieter than 6%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Selma?
The median owner-occupied home in Selma is valued at $96,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,197, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in Selma?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 35.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Selma get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 6, 1996. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)