Shelby, NC
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Shelby, North Carolina Summary

Life in Shelby research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Shelby over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Shelby:

  • The population in Shelby is 21,868.

  • The median home value in Shelby is $208,171.

  • The median income in Shelby is $50,705.

  • The cost of living in Shelby is 89 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Shelby is $899.

  • The unemployment rate in Shelby is 3.6%.

  • The poverty rate in Shelby is 18.2%.

  • The average high in Shelby is 71.2° and the average low is 47.6°.

Shelby SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
7
Commute
8.5

Shelby, NC Crime Report

Crime in Shelby summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Shelby. Key points include:

  • There were 766 total crimes in Shelby in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Shelby is 3,477.4 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Shelby is 1,044.1 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Shelby is 2,433.3 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Shelby is 64.09% above the national average.

766
Total Crimes
64.09%
Above National Average

Crime In Shelby Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Shelby
/ 100k People
North Carolina
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 766 3,477.4 2,343.9 2,119.2
Violent Crime 230 1,044.1 375.8 359.0
Murder 5 22.7 7.5 5.0
Robbery 17 77.2 50.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 197 894.3 290.1 256.0
Property Crime 536 2,433.3 1,968.1 1,760.0
Burglary 107 485.7 323.9 229.0
Larceny 378 1,716.0 1,390.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 51 231.5 254.1 259.0

Shelby, NC Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Shelby summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Shelby. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around North Carolina. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Shelby is 89 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Shelby is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Shelby is $208,171.

  • The median income in Shelby is $50,705.

89
Shelby's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Shelby Comparison Table

Living Expense Shelby North Carolina National Average
Overall 89 92 100
Services 98 100 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 98 106 100
Housing 74 86 100
Transportation 98 93 100
Utilities 93 95 100

Shelby, NC Weather

  • The average high in Shelby is 71.2° and the average low is 47.6°.

  • There are 70.3 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 48.1 inches of precipitation each year with 3.5 inches of snow.

StatShelby
Average Annual High71.2
Average Annual Low47.6
Annual Precipitation Days70.3
Average Annual Precipitation48.1
Average Annual Snowfall3.5
71.2°
Average High
70.3
Days of Rain

Shelby, NC Photos

Old Cleveland County Courthouse
Source: Public Domain
Cleveland County Fair
Source: Public Domain
Bank Of America Corporate Center
Source: Public Domain

1 Reviews & Comments About Shelby

Overall User Rating
5.0
/5

HomeSnacks User - None

from Shelby lived here 34 years best town and best fire dept. in Cleveland county

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Shelby in North Carolina

Locations Around Shelby

Map Of Shelby, NC

Best Places Around Shelby

1

Matthews, NC
Population 29,959

2

Davidson, NC
Population 14,852

3

Cornelius, NC
Population 32,009

4

Marvin, NC
Population 6,542

5

Black Mountain, NC
Population 8,462

6

Weddington, NC
Population 13,468

7

Huntersville, NC
Population 62,458

8

Charlotte, NC
Population 886,283

9

Tega Cay, SC
Population 13,267

10

Shelby Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Shelby

The current population in Shelby is 21,868. The population has increased 7.1% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 21,868 0.7%
2022 21,712 0.7%
2021 21,564 7.6%
2020 20,046 0.2%
2019 20,007 -0.2%
2018 20,053 -0.0%
2017 20,058 -1.0%
2016 20,259 0.1%
2015 20,245 -0.2%
2014 20,283 -0.3%
2013 20,335 0.0%
2012 20,331 -0.2%
2011 20,377 -0.2%
2010 20,417 -

Race / Ethnicity in Shelby

White
52.7% (11,529)
African American
32.3% (7,068)
American Indian
0.4% (91)
Asian
0.8% (179)
Hawaiian
0.3% (67)
Other
0.1% (23)
Two Or More
8.6% (1,875)
Hispanic
4.7% (1,036)

Shelby is:

  • 52.7% White with 11,529 White residents.

  • 32.3% African American with 7,068 African American residents.

  • 0.4% American Indian with 91 American Indian residents.

  • 0.8% Asian with 179 Asian residents.

  • 0.3% Hawaiian with 67 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 23 Other residents.

  • 8.6% Two Or More with 1,875 Two Or More residents.

  • 4.7% Hispanic with 1,036 Hispanic residents.

Race Shelby NC USA
White 52.7% 60.6% 58.2%
African American 32.3% 20.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.4% 0.8% 0.5%
Asian 0.8% 3.1% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.3% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 8.6% 3.7% 3.9%
Hispanic 4.7% 10.9% 19.0%

Gender in Shelby

Female
53.7% (11,736)
Male
46.3% (10,132)
  • Shelby is 53.7% female with 11,736 female residents.

  • Shelby is 46.3% male with 10,132 male residents.

Gender Shelby NC USA
Female 53.7% 51.1% 50.5%
Male 46.3% 48.9% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Shelby for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Shelby completed < 9th grade.

  • 7.0% of adults in Shelby completed 9-12th grade.

  • 31.0% of adults in Shelby completed high school / ged.

  • 18.0% of adults in Shelby completed some college.

  • 14.0% of adults in Shelby completed associate's degree.

  • 16.0% of adults in Shelby completed bachelor's degree.

  • 8.0% of adults in Shelby completed master's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Shelby completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Shelby completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (437)
9-12th Grade
7.0% (1,530)
High School / GED
31.0% (6,779)
Some College
18.0% (3,936)
Associate's Degree
14.0% (3,061)
Bachelor's Degree
16.0% (3,498)
Master's Degree
8.0% (1,749)
Professional Degree
3.0% (656)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (218)
Education Shelby NC USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 7.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 31.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 18.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 14.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 16.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 8.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 3.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Shelby, North Carolina

  • 8.4% of households in Shelby earn Less than $10,000.

  • 7.2% of households in Shelby earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 10.2% of households in Shelby earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 10.0% of households in Shelby earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.7% of households in Shelby earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.9% of households in Shelby earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 9.3% of households in Shelby earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 11.7% of households in Shelby earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.8% of households in Shelby earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 6.0% of households in Shelby earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
8.4% (183,702)
$10,000 to $14,999
7.2% (156,540)
$15,000 to $24,999
10.2% (223,969)
$25,000 to $34,999
10.0% (217,774)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.7% (298,784)
$50,000 to $74,999
18.9% (413,390)
$75,000 to $99,999
9.3% (202,287)
$100,000 to $149,999
11.7% (255,658)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.8% (103,883)
$200,000 or more
6.0% (130,807)
Income Shelby NC USA
Less than $10,000 8.4% 5.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 7.2% 3.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.2% 7.6% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 10.0% 7.8% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.7% 12.0% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.9% 17.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 9.3% 13.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 11.7% 16.5% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.8% 7.8% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 6.0% 9.5% 12.6%

Articles About North Carolina

Enjoy The Snack?