Small-town market profile · Alabama
Selma, AL area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Selma area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 35,140
- −7.9% since 2020
- Households
- 15,947
- Median household income
- $35,627
- +5.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $94,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,268
- Highest market score
- 60
- Pet businesses, #142 of 527 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Selma area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Selma area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 35,140 people live in the Selma area, in 15,947 households. Population estimates show the Selma area declined 7.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Selma area is $35,627 a year, 56% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 5.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Selma area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (39).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Selma area are for pet businesses (60); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (57); and restaurants and cafes (57). The Selma area ranks #142 of 527 scored small-town markets for pet businesses.
The Selma area is made up of one county, Dallas County. For its number of households, the Selma area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Selma area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Selma area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 60 | #142 of 527 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.4M | 159 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 57 | #165 of 481 | 7 | 4.4 | $2.5M | 148 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 57 | #187 of 538 | 88 | 55.2 | $475K | 128 | 41 |
| Insurance agencies | 56 | #209 of 537 | 20 | 12.5 | $1.6M | 130 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 55 | #152 of 399 | 5 | 3.1 | $3.5M | 119 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 55 | #211 of 538 | 48 | 30.1 | $872K | 131 | 9 |
| Real estate | 54 | #207 of 536 | 19 | 11.9 | Index only | 227 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 52 | #238 of 526 | 11 | 6.9 | $3M | 123 | 12 |
| Pizza | 47 | #284 of 520 | 5 | 3.1 | $8.4M | 165 | 29 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 45 | #281 of 476 | 7 | 4.4 | $4.7M | 99 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 45 | #329 of 538 | 25 | 15.7 | $448K | 101 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #310 of 526 | 10 | 6.3 | $1.3M | 133 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 44 | #322 of 529 | 6 | 3.8 | $7M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 43 | #327 of 504 | 5 | 3.1 | $2M | 232 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 43 | #341 of 538 | 44 | 27.6 | $255K | 95 | 17 |
| Physical therapy | 42 | #263 of 400 | 5 | 3.1 | $2.6M | 109 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #379 of 533 | 15 | 9.4 | Index only | 229 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #414 of 538 | 49 | 30.7 | $207K | 97 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #414 of 538 | 26 | 16.3 | $391K | 91 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 34 | #420 of 538 | 78 | 48.9 | $167K | 110 | 31 |
| Child care and preschools | 32 | #366 of 454 | 6 | 3.8 | $703K | 70 | 7 |
| Funeral homes | 31 | #307 of 365 | 5 | 3.1 | $426K | 63 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #472 of 536 | 30 | 18.8 | $749K | 85 | 9 |
| Grocery stores | 21 | #467 of 506 | 14 | 8.8 | $5.5M | 60 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 21 | #478 of 529 | 22 | 13.8 | $3.5M | 45 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 21 | #504 of 536 | 25 | 15.7 | $899K | 71 | 9 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 20 | #500 of 537 | 21 | 13.2 | $2M | 65 | 29 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 19 | #498 of 538 | 41 | 25.7 | $1.9M | 56 | 10 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 15 | #443 of 458 | 12 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 61 | 21 |
| Gyms | 14 | #489 of 506 | 7 | 4.4 | $876K | 67 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 13 | #372 of 387 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.5M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 13 | #416 of 431 | 10 | 6.3 | $1.1M | 45 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 13 | #520 of 535 | 12 | 7.5 | $511K | 77 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 12 | #390 of 400 | 8 | 5.0 | $1.6M | 52 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 10 | #529 of 536 | 35 | 21.9 | $1.1M | 46 | 28 |
| Barbershops | 6 | #371 of 377 | 9 | 5.6 | $1.1M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $2.8M | 111 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $2.8M | 91 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $1.5M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $2.4M | 90 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $13.9M | 337 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $7.5M | 48 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $6.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $16.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $8.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $16.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $9.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $13.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Selma area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.2M | $702 | 73 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $38.4M | $2,411 | 93 |
| Food away from home | $41.8M | $2,623 | 64 |
| Groceries | $77.6M | $4,866 | 77 |
| Personal care products and services | $10.2M | $637 | 63 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.2M | $264 | 46 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.1M | $384 | 39 |
| Medical and dental services | $13.1M | $819 | 64 |
| Pets | $9.8M | $614 | 68 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $22.5M | $1,409 | 69 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32.6M | $2,042 | 104 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $32.9M | $2,065 | 68 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.4M | $1,093 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $187.2M | $11,740 | 70 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Selma area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 35,140−7.9% since 2020
- Households
- 15,947
- Median age
- 41.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 64%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 979 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 38
- Median household income
- $35,627+5.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $53,885
- Median home value
- $94,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,268
- Daytime population
- 34,961Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Selma area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Selma area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Selma area 1
- Dallas County, AL36,858 people
Other markets based in Alabama 12
- Birmingham, AL metro area1,184,613 people
- Huntsville, AL metro area516,951 people
- Mobile, AL metro area412,590 people
- Montgomery, AL metro area386,024 people
- Tuscaloosa, AL metro area278,526 people
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area246,989 people
- Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area199,825 people
- Decatur, AL metro area157,747 people
- Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area153,852 people
- Dothan, AL metro area152,674 people
- Anniston-Oxford, AL metro area116,090 people
- Gadsden, AL metro area103,105 people
Questions
How fast is the Selma, AL area growing?
Population estimates put the Selma area at 35,140 people in 2025, down 7.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 15,947 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 5.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Selma, AL area spend?
Households in the Selma area spend about $187.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $77.6M on groceries and $41.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Selma area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (39).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Selma, AL area?
Of the business types scored in the Selma area, pet businesses (60); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (57); and restaurants and cafes (57) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #142 of 527 scored small-town markets.
How does the Selma, AL area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Selma area is $35,627, 56% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 7.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $94,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in the Selma area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Selma area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Alabama · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Selma area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Selma area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.