County · Tennessee
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County, Tennessee. Shelby County had 910,226 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.1% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. It holds 7 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs) and 249 census tracts. GEOID 47157.
Shelby County is one of the 9 counties of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
910,226
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 929,744 · ACS 2020-2024: 919,173
Median household income
$63,767
±$1,251 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$249,100
±$4,330 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,232
±$12 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
How many people live in Shelby County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 929,744 residents in Shelby County. The Census Bureau estimates 910,226 for July 1, 2025, down 2.1% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 919,173 over 753 square miles of land.
| Measure | Shelby County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 919,173 | 7,066,383 | −17,201 |
| Households | 362,741±1,701 | 2,824,277 | +11,547 |
| Average household size | 2.49±0.01 | 2.45 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 404,333±259 | 3,143,670 | −851 |
Shelby County's population since 2000
From 897,472 in 2000 to 910,226 in 2025: up 1.4%. 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 7 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Memphis with 609,647 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Memphis | 633,104 | $51,736 |
|---|---|---|
| Bartlett | 57,786 | $102,070 |
| Collierville | 51,324 | $138,598 |
| Germantown | 41,333 | $149,920 |
| Arlington | 14,549 | $135,105 |
| Lakeland | 13,904 | $116,250 |
| Millington | 10,582 | $49,979 |
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 35.9 years old; 25.4% are under 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 52.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 32.7%. 7.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shelby County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9±0.1 | 38.9 | +0.3 |
| Under 18 years | 25.4% | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.8%±0.1 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.8% | 7.4% | +2.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 32.7%±0.1 pts | 71.0% | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 52.3%±0.3 pts | 15.4% | −1.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.9%±0.1 pts | 1.9% | +0.3 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7%±0.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.9%±0.3 pts | 6.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.2%±0.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9%±0.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 12.8%±0.3 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.0%±0.5 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.9%±0.4 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.3%±0.6 pts | 31.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.0%±0.4 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3%±0.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 362,741 households earn less than $63,767 a year (±$1,251), against $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $63,574 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shelby County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,767±$1,251 | $69,595 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,640±$1,946 | $96,820 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,083±$742 | $39,437 | +$2,034 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.8%±0.6 pts | 13.8% | −1.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.6%±1.5 pts | 18.8% | −4.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.5%±0.6 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.6%±0.5 pts | 89.2% | – |
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 54.1% of Shelby County's occupied homes and renters 45.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,100 by its owner (±$4,330). The median renter pays $1,232 a month including utilities, and 45.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shelby County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $249,100±$4,330 | $286,700 | +$64,004 |
| Median gross rent | $1,232±$12 | $1,189 | +$73 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.6%±1.4 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,682±$22 | $1,566 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.1%±0.7 pts | 66.9% | −1.0 pts |
| Housing units | 404,333±259 | 3,143,670 | −851 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9%±0.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.3%±0.6 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.2%±0.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.9%±0.3 pts | 5.6% | – |
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 1,230 new housing units across Shelby County in 2025 (1,058 single-family), 1.4 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?
76.6% of Shelby County's workers drive alone and 10.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.2%.
| Measure | Shelby County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.7%±0.5 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6%±0.6 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4%±0.5 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±0.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.8%±0.5 pts | 12.9% | +7.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min±0.3 | 25.7 min | −0.5 min |
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 249 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $12,132 (Tract 50) to $236,189 (Tract 213.56).
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 Tennessee's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 1st of 95 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 92nd of 95 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd of 95 |
| Median household income | 29th of 95 |
| Median home value | 25th of 95 |
| Median gross rent | 11th of 95 |
| Poverty rate | 29th of 95 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th of 95 |
| Median age | 91st of 95 |
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.