Population 49,096 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shelby County
Household size in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.51 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.69 | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.75 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, Shelby County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the Louisville area overall, where it has 2.50 people. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 39.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +1.7 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Shelby County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 38.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 12.4% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Shelby County than nationally: 10.1%, against 11.6%. Compared with other Kentucky counties, Shelby County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Shelby County
Renters in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 30.5% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 32.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.8% | 32.5% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.1% | 31.1% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Shelby County own their homes; 26.1% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 32.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.8% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Shelby County than nationally: 6.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only seven have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1975 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1976 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1980 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Shelby County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $756 | $769 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $919 | $826 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $897 | $928 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,092 | $1,200 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$336 | +$431 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Shelby County runs $1,092 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $336 a month since 2006–10, up 44%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Shelby County
Bachelor's degrees in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 24.9% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 26.7% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 29.0% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 32.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +7.9 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Shelby County than nationally: 32.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Among Kentucky's 120 counties, though, only 11 have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.2% | 86.4% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.2% | 87.8% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.4% | 90.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 91.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +4.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Shelby County is close to the national rate: 88.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Louisville area (91.1%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.0 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Shelby County than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.2 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Shelby County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 2.62 | 41.7 | 10.1% | 26.1% | 6.9% | 1990 | $1,092 | 32.3% | 88.2% | 4.3% |
| Oldham County | 2.88 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 12.9% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,330 | 47.4% | 94.8% | 3.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.26 | 41.7 | 12.3% | 35.5% | 6.8% | 1978 | $1,015 | 30.9% | 92.5% | 5.8% |
| Jefferson County | 2.42 | 39.5 | 13.1% | 37.9% | 8.2% | 1973 | $1,296 | 36.3% | 90.9% | 5.4% |
| Clark County | 2.46 | 40.4 | 11.9% | 25.3% | 7.9% | 1986 | $1,156 | 28.5% | 91.1% | 4.1% |
| Floyd County | 2.55 | 41.0 | 10.5% | 26.8% | 8.9% | 1979 | $1,070 | 33.2% | 92.9% | 4.1% |
| Scott County | 2.61 | 37.3 | 12.1% | 28.3% | 7.0% | 1996 | $1,254 | 35.1% | 94.0% | 4.4% |
| Harrison County | 2.57 | 42.8 | 8.3% | 16.4% | 9.1% | 1988 | $847 | 22.0% | 91.7% | 3.2% |
| Bourbon County | 2.54 | 42.0 | 11.2% | 36.3% | 10.2% | 1977 | $846 | 26.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Crawford County | 2.29 | 45.4 | 6.2% | 18.7% | 19.6% | 1982 | $700 | 11.2% | 85.6% | 3.8% |
| Nicholas County | 2.77 | 41.0 | 9.7% | 25.5% | 16.2% | 1973 | $710 | 9.6% | 87.3% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wayne County, WV · Hancock County, MS · Hardin County, TX · Harrison County, IN · Hawkins County, TN · Wood County, TX · Winona County, MN · Windsor County, VT · Windham County, VT · Wilson County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Shelby County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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