Shelby County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: Shelby County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Shelby County, Illinois has a population of 20,720, the 56th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $72,095 and the median home value is $137,100. The poverty rate is 9.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Shelby County Quick Facts

Population 20,720

Median Household Income $72,095

Median Home Value $137,100

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment Rate 3.0%

Median Age 45.3 years

Homeownership Rate 78.4%

Affordability Ratio 1.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.3%

High School Graduation 94.9%

Cities/Places 12

Population 20,720 56th of 102

Median Income $72,095 14% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment 3.0%

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	20,867	20,720	-0.7%
Median household income	$68,457	$72,095	+5.3%
Median home value	$130,400	$137,100	+5.1%

Median Household Income

Shelby

$72,095

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Shelby

$137,100

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.1%

$25K-$50K 20.5%

$50K-$100K 34.4%

$100K+ 32.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.8%

$10K-$15K

2.2%

$15K-$20K

2.6%

$20K-$25K

3.4%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

3.9%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

3.3%

$45K-$50K

3.5%

$50K-$60K

7.4%

$60K-$75K

11.1%

$75K-$100K

16.0%

$100K-$125K

12.4%

$125K-$150K

9.2%

$150K-$200K

6.2%

$200K+

4.3%

Employment

3.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

61.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.4%

Renter 21.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $814/mo 13.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.3%

18-34

16.8%

35-54

23.4%

55-74

28.3%

75+

10.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Shelby County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Shelbyville	4,351	$52,470	13.2%	$116,400
Windsor	877	$63,359	15.3%	$105,400
Stewardson	756	$61,875	9.4%	$109,500
Findlay	674	$55,417	20.9%	$88,000
Cowden	534	$62,031	20.4%	$77,000
Strasburg	507	$64,219	4.5%	$97,600
Sigel	439	$85,625	8.3%	$165,800
Tower Hill	422	$53,352	13.0%	$68,300
Herrick	333	$53,750	9.3%	$73,800
Oconee	193	$74,750	5.7%	$91,300
Westervelt	134	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Lakewood	16	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Illinois with a total population of 20,720. It is the 56th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,095. This is 14% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $137,100. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Shelby County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shelby County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.0% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.

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 Illinois 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, Illinois?

Shelby County has a population of 20,720, making it the 56th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Shelby County?

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,095 with a poverty rate of 9.2%.

How many cities are in Shelby County, Illinois?

Shelby County contains 12 Census-designated places.