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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Shelby County

Tennessee · 929,744 residents · 761.263 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,092. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $158,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
32% 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
929,744
+4%since 2000
from 897,472 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,221 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 1,179 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.5
+11%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
815K849K882K916K949K1990201020202024Shelby County
2024919K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,092
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,593 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,272
+50%since 2000
from $20,856 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.8%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
19.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Finance & insurance13.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical13%
US avg: 4.7%
Information10.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.1%
US avg: 10%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$158,700
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$957
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $566 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
53.7%
−9.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.1% in 2000
46.3% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+33%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic46.2%(414,888)
Black48.4%(434,201)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(23,364)
Asian1.6%(14,552)
Other0%
Diversity Score67.6%(606,503)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic34.1%(316,740)
Black51.1%(475,074)
Hispanic / Latino8.4%(77,707)
Asian3%(27,960)
Other2%(18,628)
Diversity Score75.4%(700,792)
Segregation Score60.9%(566,039)
Diversity Score
75
+12%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
61
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.4%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 25.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 66.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.6%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
52.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
6.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.5%
−72.7 ptssince 2013
from 84.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+64%
Home value$269,600+70%
Population197,918−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Crittenden County
Income$55,358+6%
Home value$160,200+1%
Population46,210−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Tipton County
Income$74,127+42%
Home value$240,600+52%
Population62,287−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$88,456+70%
Home value$340,800+115%
Population45,071−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Tennessee?

Shelby County, Tennessee has about 929,744 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Tennessee earns about $52,092 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 $158,700, and the typical rent is about $957 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Tennessee?

About 32.4% 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 19.0% 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 103,414 residents, a change of about 13 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

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