Selmer, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Selmer, Tennessee had a total population of 4,488, the 125th largest town in Tennessee, with a median household income of $51,591, which is 26% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 23.6%.
Selmer Quick Facts
How Selmer Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,341 | 4,488 | +3.4% |
| Median household income | $44,909 | $51,591 | No clear change (+14.9%) |
| Median home value¹ | $121,471 | $155,900 | No clear change (+28.3%) |
| Median gross rent | $775 | $674 | No clear change (-13.1%) |
How Selmer Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 79.3%
- Black: 14.5%
- Hispanic: 0.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 9.8%
- HS Diploma: 50.4%
- Some College: 13.9%
- Associate's: 10.7%
- Bachelor's: 10.1%
- Graduate+: 5.1%
Selmer Rankings in Tennessee
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Other Cities in McNairy County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastview | 767 | $58,750 | 16.8% | $153,300 |
| Finger | 669 | $53,750 | 9.4% | $99,700 |
| Bethel Springs | 664 | $34,500 | 20.6% | $149,000 |
| Michie | 558 | $60,714 | 16.0% | $166,500 |
| Guys | 423 | $58,929 | 5.3% | $158,800 |
| Stantonville | 313 | $47,222 | 5.8% | N/A |
| Ramer | 243 | $53,333 | 14.0% | $176,400 |
| Enville | 163 | N/A | 17.4% | $137,500 |
| Chewalla | 150 | N/A | 10.7% | $9,999 |
Cities Similar to Selmer
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon | 4,441 | $51,969 | $160,500 | 27.1% | 20.1% |
| Lake Tansi | 4,437 | $57,991 | $280,900 | 17.8% | 13.9% |
| Rogersville | 4,647 | $47,500 | $192,800 | 20.5% | 15.7% |
| Mount Pleasant | 4,837 | $50,108 | $244,400 | 10.1% | 22.8% |
| Sparta | 4,939 | $50,080 | $217,000 | 19.1% | 14.3% |
Population Overview
Selmer is a small community located in Tennessee, within McNairy County. The total population is 4,488. It ranks as the 125th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.
Age Demographics
The median age in Selmer is 39.6 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Selmer is $51,591. This is 26% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.6%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $155,900. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 69.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Selmer is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.5%.
Education
15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Selmer, Tennessee 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 Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Selmer, Tennessee?
Selmer, Tennessee has a population of 4,488 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Selmer, TN?
The median household income in Selmer is $51,591, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Selmer, TN?
The poverty rate in Selmer is 23.6%. This means approximately 1,014 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Selmer, Tennessee?
Selmer's population is 79.3% White, 14.5% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Selmer, TN?
The median home value in Selmer is $155,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.
How educated is Selmer, Tennessee?
15.2% of adults (25+) in Selmer hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.