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Shelbyville, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Shelbyville, Indiana had a total population of 20,296, the 49th largest city in Indiana, with a median household income of $55,602, which is 23% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 21.5%.

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

Key Takeaways

Shelbyville Quick Facts

Population 20,296
Median Household Income $55,602
Median Home Value $174,700
Poverty Rate 21.5%
Unemployment Rate 2.0%
Median Age 36.3 years
Homeownership Rate 55.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.4%
High School Graduation Rate 89.5%
Diversity Index 29/100
Population 20,296 49th of 967
Median Income $55,602 below average
Poverty Rate 21.5% 72% higher than national
Median Home Value $174,700 above average

How Shelbyville Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population19,86620,296+2.2%
Median household income$58,532$55,602-5.0%
Median home value$151,100$174,700+15.6%

How Shelbyville Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.6%
$25K-$50K 22.7%
$50K-$100K 32.5%
$100K+ 24.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.8%
$10K-$15K
6.1%
$15K-$20K
2.0%
$20K-$25K
6.8%
$25K-$30K
4.7%
$30K-$35K
4.9%
$35K-$40K
3.1%
$40K-$45K
4.7%
$45K-$50K
5.3%
$50K-$60K
10.7%
$60K-$75K
10.1%
$75K-$100K
11.7%
$100K-$125K
10.4%
$125K-$150K
5.3%
$150K-$200K
4.6%
$200K+
4.0%

Employment

2.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
62.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.2%
Renter 44.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $995/mo 21.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

29out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Shelbyville Rankings in Indiana

#49 Population of 967
#545 Median Income of 796
#343 Education of 966
#299 Home Value of 818

Other Cities in Shelby County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Morristown 1,134 $53,250 14.1% $162,000
St. Paul 887 $60,938 6.1% $112,200
Fairland 660 $42,083 11.4% $186,600
Waldron 606 $80,441 7.2% $165,900

Cities Similar to Shelbyville

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Clarksville22,016$60,467$179,70021.6%16.5%
La Porte22,449$59,307$157,50020.1%16.4%
Seymour22,371$64,426$162,80018.1%15.5%
Huntington17,030$56,520$119,50016.4%15.0%
New Castle17,367$51,606$98,00013.3%20.1%

Population Overview

Shelbyville is a small city located in Indiana, within Shelby County. The total population is 20,296. It ranks as the 49th most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelbyville is 36.3 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelbyville is $55,602. This is 23% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.5%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $174,700. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $218,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 55.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% lower than the state average of 70.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelbyville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 9.1%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 29.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shelbyville, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Shelbyville, Indiana?

Shelbyville, Indiana has a population of 20,296 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Shelbyville, IN?

The median household income in Shelbyville is $55,602, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Shelbyville, IN?

The poverty rate in Shelbyville is 21.5%. This means approximately 4,221 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Shelbyville, Indiana?

Shelbyville's population is 83.4% White, 2.5% Black, 10.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in Shelbyville, IN?

The median home value in Shelbyville is $174,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x.

How educated is Shelbyville, Indiana?

19.4% of adults (25+) in Shelbyville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.