City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Shelby, MI

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.

2,571
Residents
$53,309
Median income
$124,000
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Shelby - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Shelby lands in the 25th percentile for household income and the 87th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

25th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
87th
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: Shelby, MI

2,571 people live in Shelby, Michigan - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $53,309 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.4%. Typical homes in Shelby are valued around $124,000, and the median resident age is 29.3 years. About 15.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 63.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Shelby reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 459.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Michigan at 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Shelby workers runs 16.0 minutes, with 75.1% driving alone and 1.5% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 33.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,571 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$53,309 /yr

Poverty 13.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Shelby compare to other US cities?

Here's how Shelby stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 87% 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 Michigan, Shelby ranks #33 of 254 Michigan 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 Shelby against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Shelby near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Shelby ranks #576 - the 0th 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 Household Income
#473 of 718
34th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#576 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#441 of 721
38th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#203 of 727
72nd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#477 of 727
34th percentile in Michigan

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

25thIncome percentile
87thSafety percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income · 87th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Shelby's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Shelby'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 66 Avg. percentile National median
Shelby'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 Shelby's home value compares nationally

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

$124,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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

Household income distribution - Shelby, MI Shelby, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shelby, MI-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 Shelby, MI median $53,309/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%
Shelby, MI'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 Shelby, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.1%

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

Population
2,571
Median Income
$53,309
Median Home Value
$124,000
Median Age
29.3
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Labor force participation
63.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
459.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
45.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
413.4
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.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,165 residents2,170 residents2,175 residents2,180 residents2,185 residents2,190 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,172 residents 2,185 residents ▲ +0.6%
Shelby's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.0 minutes
Drive Alone
75.1%
Carpool
19.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
1.5%
Other
1.9%

Based on 1,169 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan 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 Michigan 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
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
33.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Village of Grosse Pointe Shores
2,589 people
Pleasant Ridge
2,607 people
Franklin
2,610 people
Spring Lake
2,530 people
Mattawan
2,615 people
Montague
2,630 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelby's 2,571 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bellevue, ID
2,571 people
West, TX
2,571 people
Vergennes, VT
2,571 people
Rangely, CO
2,572 people
Rising Sun, IN
2,570 people
Hallowell, ME
2,570 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelby's $53,309 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Weiner, AR
$53,304 median income
Cedarville, OH
$53,304 median income
Bolivar, NY
$53,317 median income
Sierra Blanca, TX
$53,319 median income
Great Bend, KS
$53,323 median income
Owensboro, KY
$53,295 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shelby, MI 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, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 72.9% 8.6% 15.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 58.0% White 72.9% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.1% American Indian 2.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.6% Two or more races 15.6% 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 Michigan 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) 2,571 $53,309
Village of Grosse Pointe Shores 2,589 $182,000
Pleasant Ridge 2,607 $161,058
Franklin 2,610 $176,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shelby, MI?

What is the population of Shelby, MI? +

The population of Shelby, MI stands at 2,571 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Shelby, MI? +

Median annual household income in Shelby runs $53,309, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

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 Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Shelby, MI safe? +

Shelby has a total crime rate of 459.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Shelby, MI? +

The median home value in Shelby is $124,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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