Population 24,155 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shelby County
Household size in Shelby County
| Period | Shelby County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Shelby County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in Texas overall, where it has 2.83 people. Household size has crept up from 2.58 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Shelby County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.2, against 40.1 nationally. Even so, the population here is older than in Texas overall, where the median age is 36.7. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 38.6, even as the national median rose.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Shelby County: 17.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Texas counties have a higher share of single-parent households: only 22 of 254.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.9% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.4% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Shelby County rent their homes (26.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 68.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Shelby County: 17.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +8 | +6 |
The housing in Shelby County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in Texas as a whole, where the median home dates to 1992. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $526 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $595 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $572 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $833 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$307 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Shelby County pays $833 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $307 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northwest.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Shelby County: 15.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Shelby County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Texas counties.
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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.0% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.0% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.0% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Shelby County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 8.8 points from 2006–10, 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 | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Shelby County runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.8 points, in line with the national trend. 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 | 2.63 | 38.2 | 17.6% | 26.0% | 17.6% | 1984 | $833 | 15.4% | 83.8% | 4.5% |
| Cherokee County | 2.72 | 40.2 | 13.0% | 26.0% | 14.1% | 1985 | $949 | 19.0% | 82.2% | 4.5% |
| Natchitoches Parish | 2.37 | 36.5 | 13.4% | 39.1% | 22.9% | 1986 | $907 | 23.3% | 86.5% | 5.6% |
| Anderson County | 2.72 | 39.8 | 12.9% | 27.7% | 16.9% | 1986 | $1,060 | 15.8% | 86.3% | 4.9% |
| Winn Parish | 2.53 | 41.0 | 15.7% | 28.8% | 25.1% | 1977 | $767 | 14.9% | 84.0% | 6.2% |
| LaSalle Parish | 2.91 | 37.8 | 13.8% | 19.4% | 18.9% | 1981 | $713 | 14.5% | 80.6% | 5.4% |
| Freestone County | 2.65 | 41.9 | 10.7% | 24.6% | 20.7% | 1989 | $866 | 17.4% | 88.1% | 2.9% |
| Tensas Parish | 2.36 | 51.8 | 10.5% | 25.8% | 43.4% | 1972 | $566 | 14.6% | 80.9% | 10.3% |
| Hill County | 2.70 | 42.1 | 9.9% | 21.8% | 15.7% | 1984 | $969 | 17.8% | 87.0% | 4.6% |
| Jefferson County | 2.87 | 43.9 | 22.0% | 17.1% | 25.1% | 1986 | $669 | 11.9% | 80.1% | 2.0% |
| Claiborne County | 2.57 | 37.0 | 13.2% | 23.5% | 31.6% | 1983 | $601 | 17.5% | 83.4% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Gooding County, ID · Saline County, IL · Salinas Municipio, PR · Salem City, VA · Sabine Parish, LA · Sabana Grande Municipio, PR · Greene County, IN · Greenbrier County, WV · Gray County, TX · Grant Parish, LA
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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