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CITY

Shelby

Mississippi · 1,788 residents (2025 est.) · 2.73 sq mi
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The short version

With 1,700 people, Shelby is a city in Mississippi. 55.6% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 54% less than in Mississippi as a whole. On income it ranks near the bottom among US cities. The typical home is worth $90,400, having more than doubled since 2000. The population has fallen 42% since 2000.

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

1,700
−42%since 2000
from 2,926 in 2000
1,788 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
622 / sq mi
−35%since 2009
from 955 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
38.6
+43%since 2000
from 27.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2.73 sq mi
Population, 19902024
1K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024Shelby
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.7%(131)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 91.4%(23)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.1%(172)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910%(170)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(83)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(196)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.5%(161)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.4%(160)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.9%(304)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(200)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(76)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(24)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$25,948
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,798 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$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%
55.6%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 44.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
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%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$90,400
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$666
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $283 in 2000
US average: $1,442
67.8%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.2% in 2000
32.2% rent
13.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.20 people
−23%since 2009
from 2.85 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
51.4%
+33.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
47.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
3.5
+61%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic7.9%(232)
Black90.6%(2,652)
Hispanic / Latino1%(29)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic1.3%(22)
Black98.7%(1,678)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)
3
−64%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
American1.9%(32)
English0.6%(11)
Section 05

Education

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%
7.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

36.7 min
+83%since 2000
from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
79.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
20.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
10.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

13.4%
−9.8 ptssince 2011
from 23.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
21.9%
−18.1 ptssince 2011
from 39.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
37.8%
−7.8 ptssince 2020
from 45.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
32.4%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
33.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 36.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

39.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
60.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.6% in 2009
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
7.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
23.6%
+13.5 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
12.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 19.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
73.5%
+33.5 ptssince 2017
from 40.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
90.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2020
from 84.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
91.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
100.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married57.6%(316)
Married33%(181)
Widowed5.1%(28)
Divorced4.4%(24)
Women 15+
Never married56%(462)
Married22.4%(185)
Widowed12%(99)
Divorced9.6%(79)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

12.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 19.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
14.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.0%
+7.5 ptssince 2020
from 14.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
24.1%
+14.2 ptssince 2020
from 9.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
47.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 44.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
35.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2020
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
63.3%
+7.6 ptssince 2020
from 55.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)86.4%(76)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era0%(0)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 88 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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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 →