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COUNTY

Shelby County

Texas · 24,286 residents (2025 est.) · 795.589 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,776. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $101,500. The poverty rate of 20.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 37% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,155
−4%since 2000
from 25,224 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
30 / sq mi
−8%since 2009
from 33 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.3
+7%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:24,286 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
22K23K24K25K27K1990201020202024Shelby County
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.5%(1,572)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(1,626)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.5%(2,058)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(1,650)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(1,355)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(2,773)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(2,804)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(2,819)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.6%(3,041)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(2,676)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(1,397)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(384)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,776
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,112 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,652
+82%since 2000
from $15,186 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.7%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
−3%since 2010
from 0.491 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing5.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$101,500
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$781
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $327 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.3% in 2000
26.0% rent
Vacancy rate
19.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.2%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+7%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
31
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic69.6%(17,564)
Black19.4%(4,881)
Hispanic / Latino9.9%(2,489)
Asian0.2%(57)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic59.7%(14,428)
Black15.1%(3,649)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(4,802)
Asian0%(9)
Other5.2%(1,267)
Diversity Score
72
+12%since 2009
from 64 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
+13%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
Mexican18.6%(4,491)
Venezuelan0.4%(99)
Nicaraguan0.3%(73)
Salvadoran0.2%(57)
Spaniard0.2%(44)
Asian origin
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American16.9%(4,082)
English9.5%(2,303)
German6.2%(1,492)
Irish6.1%(1,472)
French1.8%(443)
Scottish1.3%(326)
Italian0.7%(168)
Czech0.5%(124)
Norwegian0.5%(111)
Swedish0.4%(99)
Dutch0.4%(88)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(79)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(58)
British0.2%(42)
Hungarian0.1%(21)
Welsh0%(12)
Slovene0%(8)
Israeli0%(7)
Danish0%(5)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.3%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.2 min
+43%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.5%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
7.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2012
from 20.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
20.9%
−52.7 ptssince 2013
from 73.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.2%
+27.9 ptssince 2017
from 54.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2016
from 82.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 16.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29%(2,697)
Married56.6%(5,276)
Widowed3.6%(338)
Divorced10.8%(1,005)
Women 15+
Never married23.7%(2,271)
Married53.9%(5,167)
Widowed11.4%(1,090)
Divorced11%(1,055)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

Tattnall County
Pop 24,376
Chattooga County
Pop 25,300
Clarke County
Pop 22,014
Ouachita County
Pop 21,731
Places similar to Shelby County
Head to head

Compare Shelby County to nearby counties

SHELBY COUNTY VS
Panola County
Income$64,894+30%
Home value$158,100+56%
Population23,018−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
San Augustine County
Income$50,408+1%
Home value$99,900−2%
Population7,722−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
De Soto Parish
Income$48,578−2%
Home value$154,900+53%
Population27,381+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Nacogdoches County
Income$53,555+8%
Home value$169,200+67%
Population66,035+172%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Texas?

Shelby County, Texas has about 24,155 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Texas earns about $49,776 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby County, Texas expensive?

In Shelby County, Texas, the median home is worth about $101,500, and the typical rent is about $781 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Texas?

About 15.1% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby County, Texas?

About 20.6% of people in Shelby County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby County, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,121 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9504.01Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9504.02
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 75935ZIP 75975ZIP 75954ZIP 75974ZIP 75973
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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