City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Shelby, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Shelby - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

691
Residents
$95,200
Median home
$1,266
Median rent (state)

Shelby - the verdict

691 people call Shelby, Alabama home. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Shelby, AL

Alabama's Shelby is a small town, with 691 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Typical homes in Shelby are valued around $95,200, and the median resident age is 58.0 years. Educational attainment runs 18.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 44.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,266 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alabama run around $245, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Shelby workers runs 25.6 minutes, with 83.6% driving alone and 0.0% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

691 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

N/A /yr

Poverty 18.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Shelby compare to other US cities?

Where Shelby sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Shelby against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Shelby toward the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 517 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Shelby ranks #416 - the 20th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Shelby only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Gross Rent
#39 of 556
76th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#416 of 517
20th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#147 of 556
74th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#225 of 556
60th percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

How Shelby's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$95,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Shelby $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Median household income is not available for Shelby in the current Census ACS release (common for very small places).

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
691
Median Income
N/A
Median Home Value
$95,200
Median Age
58.0
Poverty Rate
18.0%
Labor force participation
44.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.6 minutes
Drive Alone
83.6%
Carpool
16.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 286 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Shelby sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,266/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Wilton
691 people
Eva
692 people
Reeltown
690 people
Somerville
692 people
Edgewater
694 people
Fairview
681 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelby's 691 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Brevig Mission, AK
691 people
West Goshen, CA
691 people
Taylor Springs, IL
691 people
Peru, NE
691 people
Napi Headquarters, NM
691 people
Dauberville, PA
691 people

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shelby, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Shelby, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.8% 17.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 82.8% Black or African American 17.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Shelby compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Shelby (this city) 691 N/A
Wilton 691 $54,000
Eva 692 $99,250
Reeltown 690 $38,802
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shelby, AL?

What is the population of Shelby, AL? +

691 people live in Shelby, AL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the cost of living in Shelby? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Shelby; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Shelby, AL? +

The median home value in Shelby is $95,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.