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COUNTY

Shelby County

Alabama · 238,552 residents (2025 est.) · 785 sq mi
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Part of the Birmingham metro area
The short version

Shelby County is home to 230,211 people in Alabama. Since 2000 the county has risen by half, up 86,918 people. That is roughly 53% ahead of the Alabama median. That puts it in the top 1% of US counties for household income. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $97,961, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Shelby County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population99,358 → 230,211 (+132%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Black share7.6% → 13.4% (+5.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts

Among the 67 counties in Alabama

  • 1st in household income$97,961
  • 1st in share with a bachelor's degree46.8%
  • 1st in home value$326,100
  • 36th in diversity score54.8
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
230,211
+61%since 2000
from 143,293 in 2000
238,552 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
293 / sq mi
+61%since 2000
from 182 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+15%since 2000
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
785 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
86K126K165K204K243K19902000201020202024Shelby County
2024230K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(12,207)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(13,917)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(16,061)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(15,730)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(13,732)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.1%(27,926)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.5%(31,182)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(31,633)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.6%(29,057)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.2%(23,510)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(11,851)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(3,405)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$97,961
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,440 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,440
+82%since 2000
from $27,176 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.7%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.440
+1%since 2010
from 0.434 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services10.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration8.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$326,100
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $136,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,401
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $635 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
18.6% rent
Vacancy rate
5.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.61 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.59 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.1%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.8%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 35.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+20%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.6%(126,951)
Black7.4%(10,570)
Hispanic / Latino2%(2,910)
Asian1%(1,465)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic73.2%(168,534)
Black13.4%(30,808)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(17,419)
Asian2.2%(4,956)
Other3.7%(8,494)
Diversity Score
55
+54%since 2009
from 36 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−14%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(10,417)
South American0.8%(1,764)
Central American0.6%(1,445)
Puerto Rican0.6%(1,417)
Cuban0.3%(782)
Salvadoran0.3%(619)
Venezuelan0.3%(580)
Colombian0.3%(577)
Honduran0.2%(405)
Spaniard0.1%(342)
Chilean0.1%(305)
Guatemalan0.1%(304)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0.1%(157)
Ecuadorian0%(102)
Dominican0%(96)
Argentine0%(43)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.6%(1,390)
Chinese0.5%(1,244)
Vietnamese0.4%(950)
Filipino0.2%(379)
Korean0.1%(289)
Pakistani0.1%(168)
Nepalese0%(111)
Japanese0%(82)
Taiwanese0%(65)
Thai0%(65)
Laotian0%(18)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(59)
Guamanian0%(32)
Tongan0%(12)
Ancestry
English16.9%(39,017)
Irish9.6%(22,135)
American8%(18,339)
German7.5%(17,262)
Italian3.2%(7,339)
Scottish2.8%(6,478)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(4,000)
French1.5%(3,385)
Polish0.9%(2,015)
Arab0.8%(1,729)
Dutch0.6%(1,477)
+ 43 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(1,229)
Lebanese0.5%(1,170)
Welsh0.5%(1,133)
British0.5%(1,072)
Swedish0.5%(1,071)
Danish0.3%(745)
Hungarian0.3%(654)
Greek0.3%(584)
Russian0.2%(464)
Nigerian0.2%(406)
West Indian0.2%(389)
Austrian0.1%(307)
Ukrainian0.1%(297)
Swiss0.1%(288)
Canadian0.1%(276)
Czech0.1%(244)
Turkish0.1%(226)
Palestinian0.1%(185)
Portuguese0.1%(178)
Jamaican0.1%(167)
Romanian0.1%(155)
Croatian0.1%(153)
Syrian0.1%(151)
Kenyan0.1%(151)
Slovak0.1%(145)
Lithuanian0.1%(139)
Iranian0.1%(136)
Bulgarian0.1%(127)
Haitian0.1%(123)
Belgian0%(87)
Finnish0%(75)
Brazilian0%(69)
Egyptian0%(58)
Armenian0%(58)
Latvian0%(23)
Israeli0%(13)
Ethiopian0%(11)
Slovene0%(9)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 36.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 86.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+51%since 2000
from 19.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.8%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 69.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 73.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.9%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
5.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 9.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.7%
+10.2 ptssince 2017
from 84.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 95.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 86.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
91.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.7%(25,193)
Married62%(56,323)
Widowed2.7%(2,487)
Divorced7.5%(6,792)
Women 15+
Never married24.2%(23,540)
Married57.6%(56,034)
Widowed7.6%(7,394)
Divorced10.6%(10,263)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 9.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
65.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 66.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 16.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
17.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
9.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 9.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
79.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 80.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
27.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 25.8% 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)26%(2,923)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.1%(2,711)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.8%(3,792)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.9%(438)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(52)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 11,229 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
Over time

Shelby County, decade by decade

Shelby County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199099,358$88,447$212,40629.0%21.1
2000143,293$100,993$248,10936.8%26.1
2010195,085$98,369$278,93939.6%42.8
2020223,024$95,617$267,49744.2%55.5
2024230,211$97,961$326,10046.8%54.8

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

Barnstable County
Pop 233,539
San Luis Obispo County
Pop 282,367
Yolo County
Pop 224,410
Clay County
Pop 239,593
Places similar to Shelby County
Head to head

Compare Shelby County to nearby counties

SHELBY COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$66,388−32%
Home value$240,000−26%
Population665,742+179%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Chilton County
Income$65,603−33%
Home value$161,300−51%
Population47,708−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Talladega County
Income$57,776−41%
Home value$149,200−54%
Population81,603−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Bibb County
Income$52,541−46%
Home value$145,700−55%
Population22,262−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Alabama?

Shelby County, Alabama has about 230,211 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelby County, Alabama?

The typical household in Shelby County, Alabama earns about $97,961 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby County, Alabama expensive?

In Shelby County, Alabama, the median home is worth about $326,100, and the typical rent is about $1,401 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Alabama?

About 46.8% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby County, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby County, Alabama?

About 7.2% of people in Shelby County, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby County, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby County, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 130,853 residents, a change of about 132 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 →

Shelby County, Alabama: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy