Selma 55 Below average
Selma Livability #638 ranked city in North Carolina#23,173 ranked city in the USARanks better than 20% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Selma

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Crime Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

  • Employment Employment

    This area earns a low score in the employment category due to low household income levels and high unemployment rates, which may pose challenges in seeking job opportunities.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Selma?

Located in the state of North Carolina, Selma is a small-sized city with a population of 7,159 people. Selma is mostly populated by White (37%) and Black or African American (49%) ethnic groups. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Selma are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 29% of the population also speak Spanish. With an average age of 31 years old, Selma could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 42% of the Selma population is married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Selma, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 23 minutes.

Without the right tools, moving to any new town can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Selma, North Carolina could be a positive experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. With useful information like amenities, crime, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Selma and in the areas around Selma is a much easier task.

Selma has a livability score of 59/100 and is ranked #546 in North Carolina and #19,887 in the USA. Compared to the United States average, this area has a score which ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it is not considered a very livable city. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Selma has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B). Unfortunately for Selma, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Selma has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Selma real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Selma. The median home price for Selma homes is $201,417, which is 30.4% lower than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Selma, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.9, which is 43.9% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Selma

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Compare Selma, NC Livability

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      Selma transportation information

      Statistic Selma North Carolina National
      Average one way commute23min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.8%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool13.4%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.3%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home1.5%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Selma, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.