Selma, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 520, Selma's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Selma is a small community located in Oregon, within Josephine County. The total population is 520. It ranks as the 279th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Selma is 32.8 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 40.4 years. With 36.7% of the population under 18, Selma has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Selma is $43,372. This is 48% lower than the state median of $83,011. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $231,500. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 97.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 54% higher than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Selma has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 14.7%.

Education

6.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 83% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Selma, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.