City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Shively, KY

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

15,556
Residents
$46,522
Median income
$139,200
Median home
$1,272
Median rent (state)

Shively - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Shively lands in the 15th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
43rd
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Shively, KY

Shively is a small town in Kentucky, home to 15,556 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Shively brings in $46,522 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.6%. Shively's housing stock carries a median value of $139,200, and the median resident age is 46.3 years. Educational attainment runs 12.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Shively's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3585.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kentucky at 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,272 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Kentucky, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

15,556 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$46,522 /yr

Poverty 13.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Shively compare to other US cities?

Shively measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 43% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kentucky, Shively ranks #177 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Kentucky's city distribution

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Shively ranks #59 - the 66th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Shively only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#322 of 485
34th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#59 of 520
66th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#260 of 484
46th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#222 of 519
57th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#341 of 520
34th percentile in Kentucky

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 Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

15thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Shively's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Shively's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Shively's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Shively's home value compares nationally

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

$139,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Shively $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

Household income distribution - Shively, KY Shively, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shively, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Shively, KY median $46,522/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Shively, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Shively, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.8%

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

Population
15,556
Median Income
$46,522
Median Home Value
$139,200
Median Age
46.3
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Labor force participation
53.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3585.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
305.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3280.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,400 residents15,600 residents15,800 residents16,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,638 residents 15,895 residents ▲ +1.6%
Shively's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.9%
Carpool
8.7%
Public Transit
2.2%
Walk
0.2%
Work from Home
11.8%
Other
2.2%

Based on 6,728 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky 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 Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Shively sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,272/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Berea
15,557 people
Glasgow
15,141 people
Shepherdsville
14,351 people
Newport
14,039 people
Danville
17,235 people
Fort Thomas
17,242 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shively's 15,556 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Lealman, FL
15,560 people
Williamsburg, VA
15,564 people
Mount Clemens, MI
15,567 people
Frankfort, IN
15,536 people
Jackson, MO
15,532 people
Tanque Verde, AZ
15,531 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shively's $46,522 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mosheim, TN
$46,523 median income
Wauneta, NE
$46,518 median income
Amanda, OH
$46,528 median income
Oakwood village (Paulding County), OH
$46,528 median income
Garden View, PA
$46,528 median income
Greenfield, OH
$46,513 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shively, KY 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 Shively, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.8% 58.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.7% White 35.8% Black or African American 58.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 4.9% 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 Shively compares to nearby Kentucky cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Shively (this city) 15,556 $46,522
Berea 15,557 $56,484
Glasgow 15,141 $42,417
Shepherdsville 14,351 $71,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shively, KY?

What is the population of Shively, KY? +

Shively, KY has a population of 15,556 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Shively, KY? +

Shively households earn a median of $46,522 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Shively? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Shively; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Shively, KY safe? +

Shively has a total crime rate of 3585.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Shively, KY? +

The median home value in Shively is $139,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.