City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Shelbyville, TN

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

24,125
Residents
$52,290
Median income
$224,700
Median home
$1,017
Median rent (state)

Shelbyville - the verdict

Shelbyville ranks in the 23rd percentile for household income and the 25th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

23rd
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
21st
percentile, median rent
25th
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: Shelbyville, TN

Tennessee's Shelbyville is a small city, with 24,125 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $52,290 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.3%. Typical homes in Shelbyville are valued around $224,700, and the median resident age is 32.0 years. About 11.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 244 residential building permits were authorized in Shelbyville (Building Boom), up 64% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2342.7 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Tennessee at 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,017 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $218 across Tennessee, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 25.0 minutes, with 70.9% driving alone and 5.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 69.2 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

24,125 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$52,290 /yr

Poverty 20.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Shelbyville compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% pricier than other cities
Safety 25% 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 Tennessee, Shelbyville ranks #124 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Shelbyville's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

23rdIncome percentile
25thSafety percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income · 25th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Shelbyville's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Shelbyville'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 38 Avg. percentile National median
Shelbyville'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 Shelbyville's home value compares nationally

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

$224,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Shelbyville $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 - Shelbyville, TN Shelbyville, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shelbyville, TN-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 Shelbyville, TN median $52,290/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%
Shelbyville, TN'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 Shelbyville, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.1%

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

Population
24,125
Median Income
$52,290
Median Home Value
$224,700
Median Age
32.0
Poverty Rate
20.3%
Labor force participation
66.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2342.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
432.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1910.0
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
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
23,000 residents24,000 residents25,000 residents26,000 residents27,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 23,612 residents 26,146 residents ▲ +10.7%
Shelbyville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
244
housing units authorized
Single-Family
238
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 149
2020 175
2021 215
2022 267
2023 221
2024 244

Permit volume increased 64% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.0 minutes
Drive Alone
70.9%
Carpool
21.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
5.6%
Other
1.6%

Based on 11,727 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,017/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Farragut
24,309 people
East Ridge
22,034 people
Bristol
27,490 people
Tullahoma
20,672 people
Springfield
18,985 people
Sevierville
18,105 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelbyville's 24,125 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Collinsville, IL
24,126 people
Nixa, MO
24,131 people
Lexington, SC
24,132 people
Wekiwa Springs, FL
24,109 people
West Memphis, AR
24,147 people
Emporia, KS
24,098 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelbyville's $52,290 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lindcove, CA
$52,292 median income
Hindsboro, IL
$52,292 median income
Grand Junction, IA
$52,292 median income
Palco, KS
$52,292 median income
Fort Smith, MT
$52,292 median income
Twin Bridges, MT
$52,292 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shelbyville, TN 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 Shelbyville, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 66.6% 11.7% 13.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 29.2% White 66.6% Black or African American 11.7% Asian 0.2% American Indian 2.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.8% Two or more races 13.2% 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 Shelbyville compares to nearby Tennessee cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Shelbyville (this city) 24,125 $52,290
Farragut 24,309 $142,402
East Ridge 22,034 $55,988
Bristol 27,490 $55,007
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shelbyville, TN?

What is the population of Shelbyville, TN? +

The population of Shelbyville, TN stands at 24,125 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Shelbyville, TN? +

The median household income in Shelbyville is $52,290 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Shelbyville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Shelbyville; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Shelbyville, TN safe? +

Shelbyville has a total crime rate of 2342.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Shelbyville, TN? +

Homes in Shelbyville carry a median value of $224,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.