Population 47,929 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shelby County
Household size in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The average household in Shelby County has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in Ohio overall, where it has 2.46 people. Household size has dropped from 2.65 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Shelby County are younger than 40.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Shelby County than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.3% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Shelby County rent their homes (26.3%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 40.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.6 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Shelby County than nationally: 6.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Shelby County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Ohio counties.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Shelby County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $645 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $724 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $769 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $944 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$299 | +$377 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Shelby County costs $944 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $299 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the east.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Shelby County: 21.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.8 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the south.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Shelby County have finished high school (91.7%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Ohio. The share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Shelby County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.1 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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 | 2.54 | 40.4 | 9.8% | 26.3% | 6.6% | 1973 | $944 | 21.4% | 91.7% | 3.9% |
| Logan County | 2.39 | 42.2 | 11.5% | 22.4% | 14.3% | 1971 | $802 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Jay County | 2.60 | 39.0 | 11.8% | 20.1% | 12.6% | 1959 | $781 | 13.0% | 85.5% | 4.2% |
| Union County | 2.78 | 39.3 | 9.8% | 20.8% | 3.9% | 1995 | $1,520 | 45.3% | 96.6% | 2.4% |
| Blackford County | 2.28 | 44.9 | 9.8% | 26.1% | 10.6% | 1958 | $757 | 15.2% | 90.4% | 3.7% |
| Delaware County | 2.78 | 40.3 | 7.6% | 21.5% | 5.5% | 1999 | $1,690 | 60.0% | 97.1% | 3.2% |
| Delaware County | 2.30 | 38.6 | 13.5% | 33.5% | 11.5% | 1967 | $941 | 28.3% | 90.5% | 5.8% |
| Knox County | 2.63 | 40.7 | 9.4% | 24.5% | 10.5% | 1973 | $959 | 25.0% | 90.3% | 2.3% |
| Tipton County | 2.42 | 45.6 | 10.3% | 18.6% | 9.9% | 1963 | $861 | 24.2% | 90.9% | 2.6% |
| Howard County | 2.35 | 40.6 | 13.4% | 29.4% | 11.0% | 1968 | $948 | 20.3% | 91.3% | 5.7% |
| Clinton County | 2.60 | 37.5 | 12.1% | 25.8% | 8.2% | 1958 | $939 | 15.9% | 86.0% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: San Sebastian Municipio, PR · Grundy County, IL · Guernsey County, OH · Gurabo Municipio, PR · Habersham County, GA · Halifax County, NC · Hancock County, ME · Johnson County, MO · Pulaski County, MO · Rio Grande Municipio, PR
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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