Shelby County, Alabama Demographics 2026
Shelby County, Alabama has a population of 230,211, the 6th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $97,961 and the median home value is $326,100. The poverty rate is 7.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Shelby County Quick Facts
How Shelby County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 226,955 | 230,211 | +1.4% |
| Median household income | $93,543 | $97,961 | +4.7% |
| Median home value | $298,700 | $326,100 | +9.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Shelby County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabaster | 33,917 | $91,357 | 7.1% | $261,700 |
| Pelham | 24,827 | $101,094 | 6.7% | $299,800 |
| Calera | 17,714 | $87,194 | 7.3% | $235,300 |
| Chelsea | 16,260 | $115,337 | 2.7% | $360,000 |
| Meadowbrook | 9,117 | $141,862 | 5.5% | $423,700 |
| Brook Highland | 8,146 | $79,904 | 4.6% | $427,400 |
| Montevallo | 7,556 | $56,626 | 17.7% | $220,700 |
| Highland Lakes | 5,866 | $169,361 | 4.1% | $599,200 |
| Columbiana | 4,725 | $80,546 | 9.8% | $259,500 |
| Eagle Point | 3,110 | $151,842 | 3.2% | $493,800 |
| Indian Springs Village | 2,537 | $136,836 | 3.4% | $555,800 |
| Westover | 2,298 | $96,932 | 4.1% | $297,400 |
| Vincent | 2,050 | $52,813 | 21.7% | $166,500 |
| Wilsonville | 1,879 | $72,115 | 16.4% | $235,400 |
| Harpersville | 1,788 | $75,018 | 8.2% | $211,300 |
| Shoal Creek | 1,328 | $218,333 | 0.0% | $762,500 |
| Vandiver | 990 | $49,783 | 17.9% | $104,600 |
| Dunnavant | 966 | $75,323 | 20.5% | $193,100 |
| Brantleyville | 845 | $47,917 | 11.4% | $33,000 |
| Shelby | 809 | N/A | 21.4% | $158,200 |
| Sterrett | 805 | $65,756 | 15.8% | N/A |
| Wilton | 804 | $54,750 | 15.9% | $162,100 |
| Pea Ridge | 718 | $63,889 | 10.2% | $98,000 |
Explore Alabama Rankings
Population Overview
Shelby County is located in Alabama with a total population of 230,211. It is the 6th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 23 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shelby County is 40.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shelby County is $97,961. This is 53% higher than the state median of $63,999. It is also 21% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 54% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $326,100. Housing costs are 55% higher than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelby County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.4%.
Education
46.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shelby County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%. Notably, 16.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Shelby County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Shelby County, Alabama?
Shelby County has a population of 230,211, making it the 6th most populous county in Alabama.
What is the median income in Shelby County?
The median household income in Shelby County is $97,961 with a poverty rate of 7.2%.
How many cities are in Shelby County, Alabama?
Shelby County contains 23 Census-designated places.