The Town FilesSelmer, Tennessee
Town in McNairy County · population 4,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,900
- Household income
- $51,591
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.6
Selmer is a town of 4,446 people in McNairy County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $155,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks quieter than 93% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 71% of Tennessee towns.
How Selmer ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Selmer is worth $155,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $51,591, which is more affordable than 76% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $674 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Selmer | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $674 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,591 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Selmer
| People | Selmer | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Selmer
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 59.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selmer since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 23, 2015 about 2.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 140 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in McNairy County since 1996
McNairy County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4701: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in McNairy County
McNairy County had 5,600 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,747 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Selmer itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Selmer
4 public schools with 1,444 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNairy Central High School | 9-12 | 713 | 11.9 |
| Selmer Elementary | PK-5 | 525 | 13.1 |
| Selmer Middle School | 6-8 | 206 | 9.4 |
| McNairy County Adult Learning Center | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Selmer
- Corinth, MS16.0 mi · 14,622 people · home $177,100
- Henderson, TN19.1 mi · 6,308 people · home $147,900
- Savannah, TN20.6 mi · 7,213 people · home $160,200
- Bolivar, TN24.4 mi · 5,205 people · home $150,200
Selmer questions
Is Selmer, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Selmer scores better for retirees than 19% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 93%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Selmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Selmer is valued at $155,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,591, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $674 a month.
What is the weather like in Selmer?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Selmer get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 23, 2015. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)