Shelby County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Alabama with a total population of 226,955. It is the 7th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 40.0 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $93,543. This is 51% higher than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.9%. This is 56% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $298,700. Housing costs are 53% higher than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelby County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.1%.

Education

46.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shelby County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%. Notably, 16.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.