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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Shelby County

Illinois · 22,261 residents · 758.509 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $26,040. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $38,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 36.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 24%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,261
−3%vs 2000
vs 22,893 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
36.2
−8%vs 2000
vs 39.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K21K22K22K23K1990201020202024Shelby County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.8%(1,516)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97%(1,569)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.6%(1,695)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.9%(1,530)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.4%(1,206)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.5%(3,220)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.2%(2,933)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.4%(2,326)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.2%(2,273)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.8%(2,188)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846.3%(1,401)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.8%(404)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,040
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $37,313 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,608
−33%vs 2000
vs $17,313 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
10.0%
+0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$38,800
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $67,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$296
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $418 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
78.9%
−2.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 81.0% in 2000
21.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(22,581)
Black0.2%(35)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(110)
Asian0.2%(46)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.7%(22,196)
Black0.1%(13)
Hispanic / Latino0%(5)
Asian0.1%(15)
Other0.2%(37)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.8%(171)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Cuban0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(26)
Korean0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(6)
Ancestry
German24.1%(4,987)
English13.3%(2,749)
American10.3%(2,131)
Irish9%(1,870)
French3.8%(790)
Scottish1.9%(384)
Polish1.4%(298)
Italian1.2%(258)
Portuguese0.9%(183)
Swedish0.8%(174)
Dutch0.7%(147)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(121)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(102)
Welsh0.2%(49)
Czech0.2%(46)
British0.2%(42)
Canadian0.1%(30)
Slovak0.1%(27)
Lithuanian0.1%(25)
Ukrainian0.1%(22)
Danish0.1%(18)
Greek0.1%(17)
Slovene0.1%(15)
Croatian0.1%(12)
Russian0%(10)
Finnish0%(8)
Swiss0%(8)
Belgian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.8%
−1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
72.7%
−10.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 82.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.8%
−0.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.2 min
+38%vs 2000
vs 19.0 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 married25.5%(2,166)
Married59.9%(5,084)
Widowed4.3%(363)
Divorced10.3%(874)
Women 15+
Never married17.7%(1,527)
Married58.7%(5,060)
Widowed10.1%(874)
Divorced13.4%(1,156)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

Grant County
Pop 18,756
Crawford County
Pop 18,648
Long County
Pop 21,557
Putnam County
Pop 23,722
Places similar to Shelby County
Head to head

Compare Shelby County to nearby counties

SHELBY COUNTY VS
Moultrie County
Income$71,784+176%
Home value$134,000+245%
Population14,371−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$80,404+209%
Home value$189,500+388%
Population34,519+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Christian County
Income$62,611+140%
Home value$115,500+198%
Population33,443+63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$60,944+134%
Home value$130,700+237%
Population20,790+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Illinois?

Shelby County, Illinois has about 22,261 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Illinois earns about $26,040 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby County, Illinois expensive?

In Shelby County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $38,800, and the typical rent is about $296 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Illinois?

About 9.8% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby County, Illinois?

About 10.0% of people in Shelby County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9593Census Tract 9595Census Tract 9591Census Tract 9594Census Tract 9596Census Tract 9592
13 ZIP codes
ZIP 62565ZIP 62550ZIP 61957ZIP 62571ZIP 62463ZIP 62534ZIP 62462ZIP 62422ZIP 62465ZIP 62431ZIP 62444ZIP 62553ZIP 62438
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →