2013 · Oct 2013 · Wikimedia Commons
Selma’s story
153 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 8 places on the National Register.
- 1873Selma is settled
- 2004NCMap-doton-Selma
- 2013Oct 2013
SelmaNC
A town of 6,817, settled in 1873. Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Population
6,817
+4% since 2010
Typical home
$273K
+0.6% in a year
Household income
$41K
median
Median age
34.1
years
Jobs based here
2,920
Balanced
What makes Selma stand out
The 3 things Selma does most differently from other towns.
Selma’s report card
SchoolsB−Beats 53% of NC districtsHousing$273K18% below the NC typical homeHealthC−Healthier than 17% of U.S. townsSafetyDLess crime than 8% of U.S. townsHazards21/100Low risk of storm & flood damageClimate90°/31°Summer high · winter low · 1″ snowCommute25 miHalf of commuters travel lessOutdoors0 miof trails · 0.9% conserved
Now in Selma
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Selma is #291 of 296 in NC for “Fewest uninsured”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Selma’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →63°
Clear
H 89° · L 66°
Local news
All →- 51st Annual Selma Railroad Days Festival Set For Oct. 2–3JoCo Report · Sep 27
- Teacher Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting 5-Year-Old Special Needs StudentJoCo Report · Sep 25
- Battery Theft Leaves Selma Man ChargedJoCo Report · Sep 18
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Selma. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Selma’s public schools outperform 53% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Selma’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 53% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma Elementary | PK–5 | 794 | D |
| Selma Middle School | 6–8 | 339 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Housing
A typical Selma home is worth about $273K
The typical Selma home is worth about $273,000, up 0.6% in a year, 18% below the North Carolina typical home.
$273KZillow home value
Typical home value
Selma$273K
North Carolina$335K
Market temperature
18
days on market
95.6%
sale-to-list price
+0.6%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Selma beats the North Carolina average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
C−Health Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
1 better16 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Selma | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.8% | 7.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 19.7% | 10.4% |
Johnston Health
4.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
20th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 8% of U.S. towns
Selma reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 92% report less.
DSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Selma5.6
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Selma26.7
North Carolina18.1
U.S.15.5
8th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
26th
percentile among NC towns
42
violent crimes reported in 2025
199
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 21% of U.S. communities.
21risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
5
paid flood claims since 2018
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Selma has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and snow is almost unheard of.
90°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–55°
Spring48–72°
Summer68–89°
Fall51–73°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Selma
Most working residents leave Selma for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Raleigh (14%), Smithfield (14%) and Garner (4%). Half commute less than 25 miles.
5%work in town
Where working residents work
In Selma5%
Raleigh14%
Smithfield14%
Garner4%
Cary4%
25 mi
median commute distance
2,920
jobs based in Selma
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors
0.9% of Selma is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0.9%conserved
0.9%
conserved · 30 of 3,540 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brack Wilson Park | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Landmarks
8 places in Selma on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Selma
Town in North Carolina, United States
Selma is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Selma had a population of 6,317. Selma is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area. The area has a population over 1.7 million residents, though the town of Selma is able to maintain its rural character. The Everitt P. Stevens House, located in Selma, was the site of the last Grand Review of the Confederate Army held on April 6, 1865, after its defeat at the Battle of Bentonville.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1873
- Population
- 6,317
- Area
- 4.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 174 ft
- ZIP code
- 27576
- Area code
- 919
Selma’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Selma.
SmithfieldPine LevelSelma
More about Selma
Still missing for Selma:a photo of Selmaupcoming events