The Town FilesSelma, Indiana
Town in Delaware County · population 747 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,400
- Household income
- $58,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 36.4
Selma is a town of 747 people in Delaware County, Indiana. The median home is worth $106,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks quieter than 76% of Indiana towns, better for retirees than 75% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 72% of Indiana towns.
How Selma ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Selma is worth $106,400, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $58,214, which is more affordable than 87% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 73.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Selma | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $910 | $888 |
| Median household income | $58,214 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.5% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Selma
| People | Selma | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Selma
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.4 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selma since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 44,772 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,307 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Selma itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Selma
3 public schools with 1,153 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma Elementary School | K-5 | 547 | 17.1 |
| Wapahani High School | 9-12 | 334 | 11.9 |
| Selma Middle School | 6-8 | 272 | 16.0 |
Towns near Selma
- Parker City, IN3.7 mi · 1,278 people · home $94,200
- Muncie, IN6.5 mi · 65,194 people · home $97,300
- Farmland, IN7.7 mi · 1,270 people · home $99,200
- Albany, IN8.5 mi · 2,295 people · home $105,200
- Eaton, IN10.6 mi · 1,595 people · home $89,800
- Yorktown, IN12.4 mi · 11,548 people · home $186,700
- Redkey, IN12.8 mi · 1,100 people · home $85,400
- Dunkirk, IN13.4 mi · 2,164 people · home $81,100
Selma questions
Is Selma, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Selma scores better for retirees than 75% of Indiana towns and quieter than 76%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Selma?
The median owner-occupied home in Selma is valued at $106,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,214, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Selma?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19.4 inches of snow.
Does Selma get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)