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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Shelby County

Illinois · 20,990 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 $59,134. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $105,500. With a median age of 45.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,990
−8%since 2000
from 22,893 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
28 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 30 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
45.4
+16%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K21K22K22K23K1990201020202024Shelby County
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,134
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,313 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,234
+63%since 2000
from $17,313 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.0%
+15.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.9%
US avg: 10%
Information13%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction4.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$105,500
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$707
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $418 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
20.3% rent
Afford Score
1.8
−1%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score2.1%(477)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(20,116)
Black0.3%(65)
Hispanic / Latino1%(213)
Asian0.4%(83)
Other0.9%(182)
Diversity Score6.5%(1,357)
Segregation Score16.3%(3,420)
Diversity Score
6
+210%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
16
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.6%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.4%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
+22%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
87.4%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.5%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.8%
−87.2 ptssince 2013
from 91.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+21%
Home value$134,000+27%
Population14,371−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$80,404+36%
Home value$189,500+80%
Population34,519+68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Christian County
Income$62,611+6%
Home value$115,500+9%
Population33,443+63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$60,944+3%
Home value$130,700+24%
Population20,790+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Illinois?

Shelby County, Illinois has about 20,990 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Illinois earns about $59,134 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 $105,500, and the typical rent is about $707 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Illinois?

About 16.6% 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 9.8% of people in Shelby County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,271 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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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

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