What are the schools like in Selma, AL?

Selma is served primarily by Selma City. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.7:1.

What is the median household income in Selma?

The median household income in Selma, AL is $31,084 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.9%.

What is the weather like in Selma, AL?

Selma has an average high temperature of 59.2°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.4 inches.

Selma, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Selma, AL affordable or expensive?

Selma's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Selma is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $92,700 and the median rent is $679 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Selma, AL?

Selma has a violent crime rate of 619.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2472.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Selma, AL a Good Place to Live?

Selma is a small city of 17,875 in Alabama, with a median household income of $31,084 and a 12.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Selma stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Selma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Selma city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.9

Selma's overall cost of living index is 86.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Selma costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Selma, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$92,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$679	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	46.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$31,084	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Selma's violent crime rate is 619.7 per 100,000 residents — 63% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

619.7 /100k

Property Crime

2472.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Selma is served primarily by Selma City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Selma, AL	National Avg
School District	Selma City	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Selma sees average highs of 59.2°F in January and 93.2°F in July, with 54.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Selma, AL
Average High — January	59.2°F
Average High — July	93.2°F
Annual Precipitation	54.5"
Annual Snowfall	0.4"

Demographics

Metric	Selma, AL	National Avg
Population	17,875	—
Median Age	39.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	17.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	79.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.0%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Selmont-West Selmont, AL 3 mi Valley Grande, AL 5 mi Orrville, AL 14 mi Benton, AL 15 mi White Hall, AL 20 mi

Selma vs Other Cities

Selma, AL vs Selmont-West Selmont, AL Selma, AL vs Valley Grande, AL Selma, AL vs Orrville, AL Selma, AL vs Benton, AL Selma, AL vs White Hall, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Selma, AL affordable or expensive?

Selma's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Selma roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $92,700 and median rent is $679/month.

What is the crime rate in Selma, AL?

Selma's violent crime rate is 619.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2472.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Selma?

Public schools in Selma are operated by Selma City. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Selma, AL a good place to live?

Selma, AL has a population of 17,875, a median household income of $31,084, and an unemployment rate of 12.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Selma?

Selma averages 59.2°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.5 inches with about 0.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Selma?

The population of Selma, Alabama is 17,875 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Selma?

Key numbers for living in Selma: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $92,700, median household income $31,084, crime index 145 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Selma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.