Shelby

Population: 21,868
Median household income: $50,705
Median home value: $185,400

Located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, Shelby is a community with a population of 21,868. The median household income of $50,705 is below the Cleveland County median ($55,769).

From 2019 to 2023, Shelby's population grew 9.3% from 20,007 to 21,868, while its median home value rose 55.4% from $119,300 to $185,400.

The median resident is 41.2 years old. The largest age group is 5 to 17, 18.1% of residents.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 21,868
Median age: 41.2 yrs
Median household income: $50,705
Median home value: $185,400
Median gross rent: $899
Housing units: 10,804
Homeownership rate: 59.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 26.6%
Unemployment rate: 3.6%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

20,00721,868

Median household income

$38,559$50,705

Median home value

$119,300$185,400

Median gross rent

$707$899

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	20,007	$38,559	$119,300	$707
2020	20,046	$39,398	$132,900	$684
2021	21,564	$41,565	$143,700	$751
2022	21,712	$46,176	$151,900	$844
2023	21,868	$50,705	$185,400	$899

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.6%

5 to 1718.1%

18 to 247.2%

25 to 3412.0%

35 to 4410.8%

45 to 5412.0%

55 to 6412.9%

65 to 7412.8%

75 and over8.7%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,217	5.6%
5 to 17	3,949	18.1%
18 to 24	1,576	7.2%
25 to 34	2,633	12.0%
35 to 44	2,359	10.8%
45 to 54	2,622	12.0%
55 to 64	2,814	12.9%
65 to 74	2,794	12.8%
75 and over	1,904	8.7%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	11,529	52.7%
Black or African American	7,068	32.3%
American Indian & Alaska Native	91	0.4%
Asian	179	0.8%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	67	0.3%
Some other race	23	0.1%
Two or more races	1,875	8.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,036	4.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma11.0%

High school graduate30.5%

Some college or associate's31.9%

Bachelor's degree15.7%

Graduate or professional degree10.9%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,662	11.0%
High school graduate	4,620	30.5%
Some college or associate's	4,828	31.9%
Bachelor's degree	2,374	15.7%
Graduate or professional degree	1,642	10.9%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone79.3%

Carpooled9.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.1%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home9.7%

Other means0.3%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	7,327	79.3%
Carpooled	885	9.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	104	1.1%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	898	9.7%
Other means	31	0.3%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,871	46.4%
15 to 29 min	2,410	28.9%
30 to 44 min	898	10.8%
45 to 59 min	458	5.5%
60+ min	710	8.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.34
Poverty rate: 18.2% (3,920 of 21,535)

	Count	Share
Family households	5,353	58.3%
Nonfamily households	3,825	41.7%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1970

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	9,178	85.0%
Vacant	1,626	15.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	5,424	59.1%
Renter-occupied	3,754	40.9%

1-unit, detached69.2%

1-unit, attached2.3%

2 to 4 units10.7%

5 to 19 units10.8%

20 or more units4.5%

Mobile home & other2.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	7,479	69.2%
1-unit, attached	252	2.3%
2 to 4 units	1,159	10.7%
5 to 19 units	1,163	10.8%
20 or more units	483	4.5%
Mobile home & other	268	2.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3761200
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 22 sq mi
Water area: 0.03 sq mi
Center point: 35.2904, -81.5456