County · Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky. Shelby County had 51,243 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.5% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 21211.
Shelby County is one of the 12 counties of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
51,243
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 48,065 · ACS 2020-2024: 49,096
Median household income
$82,604
±$4,414 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$304,800
±$14,525 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$1,033
±$49 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Shelby County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 48,065 residents in Shelby County. The Census Bureau estimates 51,243 for July 1, 2025, up 6.5% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 49,096 over 380 square miles of land.
| Measure | Shelby County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 49,096 | 4,534,824 | +1,771 |
| Households | 18,484±285 | 1,814,469 | +1,860 |
| Average household size | 2.58±0.04 | 2.43 | −0.17 |
| Housing units | 19,531±31 | 2,023,116 | +1,708 |
Shelby County's population since 2000
From 33,337 in 2000 to 51,243 in 2025: up 53.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Shelby County?
Shelby County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Shelbyville with 18,453 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Shelbyville | 17,282 | $75,610 |
|---|---|---|
| Simpsonville | 2,990 | $91,188 |
| Pleasureville | 779 | $49,932 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Shelby County?
The median resident of Shelby County is 40.9 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.0%. 6.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shelby County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9±0.6 | 39.1 | +1.5 |
| Under 18 years | 22.2% | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.7%±0.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.0% | 5.0% | +1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.6%±0.5 pts | 81.5% | −2.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.7%±0.8 pts | 7.6% | −3.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.2 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.2%±0.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.6%±0.9 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.8%±1.1 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.0%±1.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1%±1.2 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.5%±1.4 pts | 6.0% | −2.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.8%±1.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.8%±2.2 pts | 27.6% | +7.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.6%±1.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Shelby County earn?
Half of Shelby County's 18,484 households earn less than $82,604 a year (±$4,414), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $82,525 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shelby County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,604±$4,414 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $104,252±$5,599 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,890±$1,955 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.7%±1.8 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.5%±3.9 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.5%±1.9 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.6%±1.5 pts | 88.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Shelby County?
Owners occupy 73.9% of Shelby County's occupied homes and renters 26.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $304,800 by its owner (±$14,525). The median renter pays $1,033 a month including utilities, and 32.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shelby County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $304,800±$14,525 | $205,600 | +$61,984 |
| Median gross rent | $1,033±$49 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.7%±7.7 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,636±$59 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.9%±2.9 pts | 68.3% | +3.7 pts |
| Housing units | 19,531±31 | 2,023,116 | +1,708 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7%±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4%±2.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.7%±2.2 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5%±1.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.5%±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.9%±1.9 pts | 9.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Shelby County building?
Builders took permits for 269 new housing units across Shelby County in 2025 (269 single-family), 5.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Shelby County get to work?
76.0% of Shelby County's workers drive alone and 12.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Shelby County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.7%±2.0 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2%±1.0 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0%±2.8 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.9%±2.2 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.7%±0.5 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.6%±1.9 pts | 10.2% | +7.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.2 min±1.2 | 24.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Shelby County's census tracts?
Shelby County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,934 (Tract 403.01) to $153,750 (Tract 405.04).
| Tract 401.0121211040101 | 3,845±606 | $87,206 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 401.0221211040102 | 4,508±543 | $99,232 |
| Tract 402.0121211040201 | 3,052±465 | $95,216 |
| Tract 402.0221211040202 | 5,278±589 | $83,542 |
| Tract 403.0121211040301 | 5,347±585 | $35,934 |
| Tract 403.0221211040302 | 3,676±761 | $62,063 |
| Tract 404.0221211040402 | 4,097±423 | $89,010 |
| Tract 404.0321211040403 | 4,087±551 | $74,950 |
| Tract 404.0421211040404 | 4,572±524 | $86,350 |
| Tract 405.0121211040501 | 3,034±542 | $112,332 |
| Tract 405.0321211040503 | 4,036±338 | $91,688 |
| Tract 405.0421211040504 | 3,564±538 | $153,750 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Shelby County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 20th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 9th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 22nd of 120 |
| Median household income | 6th of 120 |
| Median home value | 3rd of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 11th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 115th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11th of 120 |
| Median age | 67th of 120 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Shelby County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.