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CITY

Shelby

Mississippi · 1,788 residents (2025 est.) · 2.731 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $25,948. Population has fallen 42% since 2000, a loss of 1,226 residents. 22% 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 $90,400. The poverty rate of 55.6% is well above the national figure. It falls in the bottom 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,700
−42%since 2000
from 2,926 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
622 / sq mi
−42%since 2000
from 1,071 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.6
+43%since 2000
from 27.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,788 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Shelby
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,948
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,798 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,590
+10%since 2000
from $10,567 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
4.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
55.6%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 44.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
−14%since 2010
from 0.496 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,400
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$666
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $283 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.8%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.2% in 2000
32.2% rent
Vacancy rate
13.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
51.4%
+33.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+68%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic7.9%(232)
Black90.6%(2,652)
Hispanic / Latino1%(29)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.8%(609)
2024
White, non-Hispanic1.3%(22)
Black98.7%(1,678)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)
Diversity Score3.2%(54)
Diversity Score
3
−85%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.0%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.1%
+22.0 ptssince 2000
from 59.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.7 min
+83%since 2000
from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
20.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% 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
10.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.4%
−9.8 ptssince 2011
from 23.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
21.9%
−18.1 ptssince 2011
from 39.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
32.4%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.2%
−37.9 ptssince 2009
from 71.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
39.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
Female
60.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.6%
+13.5 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.6%
−67.9 ptssince 2013
from 80.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
73.5%
+33.5 ptssince 2017
from 40.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby

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Pop 1,799
Crescent City
Pop 1,728
Eatonville
Pop 2,333
Madison
Pop 2,988
Places similar to Shelby
Head to head

Compare Shelby to nearby cities

SHELBY VS
Cleveland
Income$44,074+70%
Home value$159,300+76%
Population10,138+467%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Clarksdale
Income$36,382+40%
Home value$83,900−7%
Population13,643+663%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Indianola
Income$41,708+61%
Home value$108,800+20%
Population8,637+383%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Helena-West Helena
Income$36,019+39%
Home value$73,200−19%
Population8,216+360%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby, Mississippi?

Shelby, Mississippi has about 1,700 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelby, Mississippi?

The typical household in Shelby, Mississippi earns about $25,948 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby, Mississippi expensive?

In Shelby, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $90,400, and the typical rent is about $666 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby, Mississippi?

About 22.0% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby, Mississippi?

About 55.6% of people in Shelby, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby, Mississippi has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,106 residents, a change of about -39 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 →