F

Selma, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 33/100

Population: 30,237 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Selma, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 30,237 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (33/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $61,564, median home value of $330,500, median rent of $1,248 per month, and 11.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,664 per month (studio $1,347, 1BR $1,355, 3BR $2,314, 4BR $2,660). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $21,611 per year, consuming 35% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 12.1% and poverty 17.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$61,564
Median household income
Education F
11.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.4x
Home value $330,500 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,664/mo
2BR fair market rent (32% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$21,611/yr
Center-based infant care (35% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$61,564
▼ 1% vs national
Per Capita Income
$24,269
Unemployment Rate
12.1%
Poverty Rate
17.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$330,500
▲ 20% vs national
Median Rent
$1,248/mo
Owner Occupied
58.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,664/mo
▲ 39% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,347
1BR
$1,355
2BR
$1,664
3BR
$2,314
4BR
$2,660

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
11.4%
▼ 19 ppt vs national
High School+
37.7%
Median Age
33.2
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$21,611/yr
35% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,990/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,554/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,666/yr

What This Means

Selma, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (33/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 30,237. Challenges include education and housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Selma, CA affordable?
Selma, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (33/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $61,564. Median home value is $330,500.
What is the cost of living in Selma?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,248/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,664/mo. Infant childcare $21,611/yr. Median home value $330,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →