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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Shelby County

Tennessee · 897,472 residents · 761.263 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $39,593. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $90,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.9
US median: 35.2
Average education
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
897,472
+9%since 1990
from 826,330 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,179 / sq mi
+9%since 1990
from 1,085 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
32.9
+5%since 1990
from 31.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
815K849K882K916K949K1990201020202024Shelby County
2024919K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,593
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $27,132 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,856
+56%since 1990
from $13,330 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
16.0%
−2.3 ptssince 1990
from 18.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,800
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $65,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$566
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $394 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
63.1%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 59.5% in 1990
36.9% rent
Afford Score
2.3
−5%since 1990
from 2.4 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic55%(454,581)
Black43.6%(360,343)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(6,595)
Asian0.9%(7,599)
Diversity Score64.4%(531,755)
2000
White, non-Hispanic46.2%(414,888)
Black48.4%(434,201)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(23,364)
Asian1.6%(14,552)
Diversity Score67.6%(606,503)
Diversity Score
68
+5%since 1990
from 64 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.3%
+4.5 ptssince 1990
from 20.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
80.8%
+5.6 ptssince 1990
from 75.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+1.8 ptssince 1990
from 7.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.5 min
−26%since 1990
from 19.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

Milwaukee County
Pop 924,216
Polk County
Pop 874,790
El Paso County
Pop 877,858
Marion County
Pop 992,196
Places similar to Shelby County
Head to head

Compare Shelby County to nearby counties

SHELBY COUNTY VS
DeSoto County
Income$85,297+115%
Home value$269,600+197%
Population197,918−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Crittenden County
Income$55,358+40%
Home value$160,200+76%
Population46,210−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Tipton County
Income$74,127+87%
Home value$240,600+165%
Population62,287−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$88,456+123%
Home value$340,800+275%
Population45,071−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Tennessee?

Shelby County, Tennessee has about 897,472 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Tennessee earns about $39,593 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby County, Tennessee expensive?

In Shelby County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $90,800, and the typical rent is about $566 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Tennessee?

About 25.3% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby County, Tennessee?

About 16.0% of people in Shelby County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 71,142 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

249 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 217.45Census Tract 208.36Census Tract 211.24Census Tract 215.41Census Tract 88Census Tract 209.02Census Tract 211.41Census Tract 206.51Census Tract 210.23Census Tract 208.37Census Tract 213.52Census Tract 215.47Census Tract 206.21Census Tract 118Census Tract 108.10Census Tract 227Census Tract 217.51Census Tract 210.20Census Tract 217.44Census Tract 210.22
38 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 38017ZIP 38016ZIP 38134ZIP 38002ZIP 38125ZIP 38109ZIP 38128ZIP 38111ZIP 38116ZIP 38127ZIP 38118ZIP 38018ZIP 38115ZIP 38135ZIP 38122ZIP 38117ZIP 38053ZIP 38138ZIP 38141ZIP 38119ZIP 38104ZIP 38133ZIP 38106ZIP 38114ZIP 38108ZIP 38112ZIP 38139ZIP 38103ZIP 38107ZIP 38120
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →