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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Shelby Micro

Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC · 1 counties · 103,325 residents (2025 est.) · 464.249 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,534. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% 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 $200,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
100,991
+5%since 2000
from 96,287 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
218 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 207 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.3
+13%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:103,325 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
83K88K93K98K103K1990201020202024Shelby
2024101K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,534
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,283 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,294
+74%since 2000
from $17,395 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.3%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
+1%since 2010
from 0.439 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$200,000
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$914
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
29.1% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 42.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+55%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
64
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.2%(73,357)
Black20.8%(20,010)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,433)
Asian0.7%(647)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.6%(43,942)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.6%(71,321)
Black17.9%(18,030)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(4,792)
Asian0.9%(953)
Other5.8%(5,895)
Diversity Score58%(58,530)
Segregation Score23.3%(23,537)
Diversity Score
58
+27%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
−11%since 2020
from 26 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.0%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.4%
+16.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+59%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 85.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−7.9 ptssince 2011
from 13.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.2%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 17.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−74.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.0%
+23.2 ptssince 2017
from 61.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 95.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ShelbyCENTRAL23,309Kings MountainCENTRAL12,117
What's inside

1 component county

Cleveland CountyCENTRAL103,325
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Shelby

Hot Springs
Pop 99,695
Hermitage
Pop 107,860
Bay City
Pop 102,123
Albertville
Pop 103,537
Places similar to Shelby
Head to head

Compare Shelby side by side

SHELBY VS
Hot Springs
Income$57,181−2%
Home value$194,300−3%
Population99,695−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Hermitage
Income$59,976+2%
Home value$164,000−18%
Population107,860+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Bay City
Income$61,763+6%
Home value$152,200−24%
Population102,123−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Albertville
Income$62,571+7%
Home value$201,500+1%
Population103,537same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC?

Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC has about 100,991 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC?

The typical household in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC earns about $58,534 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC expensive?

In Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC, the median home is worth about $200,000, and the typical rent is about $914 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC?

About 22.0% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC?

About 16.6% of people in Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,277 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →