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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Shelby

Montana · 2,763 residents · 5.78 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby is a city of 2,763 people in Montana. The typical home is worth $44,600. Renters pay $242 a month at the median. About 15% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The population has fallen 14% since 2000. Households take in $25,417 at the median, 16% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 35.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

2,763
−14%vs 2000
vs 3,216 in 2000
1990 – 2025
35.8
−8%vs 2000
vs 39.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
5.78 sq mi
Population, 19902024
3K3K3K3K3K19902000201020202024Shelby
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.9%(190)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 99.4%(261)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.4%(233)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 195.9%(162)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 243.3%(92)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.7%(406)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.5%(455)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.8%(243)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.7%(239)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.8%(271)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.7%(157)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2%(54)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$25,417
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $29,219 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$11,908
−21%vs 2000
vs $15,071 in 2000
US average: $14,340
11.9%
+3.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$44,600
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $62,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$242
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $359 in 2000
US average: $450
68.3%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 68.2% in 2000
31.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.8%(2,952)
Black0.2%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(40)
Asian0.4%(12)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(2,722)
Black0.3%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(2)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other1%(28)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.4%(142)
Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(20)
Ancestry
German23.4%(753)
Irish13.7%(442)
English11.2%(359)
Norwegian9.4%(301)
American6.8%(220)
Italian4.3%(137)
Scottish2.5%(80)
French1.9%(62)
Greek1.8%(58)
Ukrainian1.5%(47)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(42)
Czech1.3%(41)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.1%(36)
Croatian0.8%(27)
Swedish0.7%(24)
Swiss0.7%(24)
Polish0.5%(16)
Danish0.2%(7)
Russian0.2%(7)
Welsh0.2%(7)
Arab0.2%(6)
Lebanese0.2%(6)
Nigerian0.2%(5)
Section 05

Education

15.2%
+0.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 14.4% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
81.0%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 82.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
2.7%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

17.3 min
+64%vs 2000
vs 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41.2%(671)
Married42.3%(688)
Widowed1.8%(29)
Divorced14.7%(240)
Women 15+
Never married22.4%(242)
Married54.2%(586)
Widowed9.9%(107)
Divorced13.5%(146)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.5%
−11.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
52.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 49.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
19.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 23.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 25.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2020
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
67.1%
+6.8 ptssince 2020
from 60.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 46.6% 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)56.9%(174)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32%(98)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28.1%(86)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.9%(9)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 306 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, Montana?

Shelby, Montana has about 2,763 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Shelby, Montana?

The typical household in Shelby, Montana earns about $25,417 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby, Montana expensive?

In Shelby, Montana, the median home is worth about $44,600, and the typical rent is about $242 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby, Montana?

About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby, Montana?

About 11.9% of people in Shelby, Montana live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →