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CITY

Shively

Kentucky · 15,895 residents (2025 est.) · 4.572 sq mi
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The short version

Shively has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,221. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $154,700. With a median age of 47.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,638
+3%since 2000
from 15,157 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,420 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 3,315 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.5
+17%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,895 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K15K15K16K16K1990201020202024Shively
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,221
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,422 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,765
+81%since 2000
from $17,574 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.7%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
+22%since 2010
from 0.380 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance10.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,700
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$899
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $425 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.8%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.6% in 2000
38.2% rent
Vacancy rate
5.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.6%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+15%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
39
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shively on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.8%(10,121)
Black30.2%(4,573)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(211)
Asian0.4%(63)
Other0%
Diversity Score56.2%(8,511)
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.6%(5,404)
Black58.2%(9,107)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(417)
Asian0.1%(10)
Other4.5%(700)
Diversity Score67.3%(10,531)
Diversity Score
67
+20%since 2000
from 56 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.6%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.7 min
+110%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.9%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.3%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.0%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.0%
−33.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 22.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−81.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.3%
+13.0 ptssince 2017
from 71.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 92.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Home value$180,500+17%
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SHIVELY VS
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SHIVELY VS
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SHIVELY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Shively, Kentucky?

Shively, Kentucky has about 15,638 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shively, Kentucky?

The typical household in Shively, Kentucky earns about $50,221 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shively, Kentucky expensive?

In Shively, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $154,700, and the typical rent is about $899 a month.

How educated are people in Shively, Kentucky?

About 13.9% of adults age 25 and over in Shively, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shively, Kentucky?

About 14.7% of people in Shively, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shively, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Shively, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 93 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →