Shelby County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 48,599. It is the 20th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $82,671. This is 32% higher than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $277,500. Housing costs are 44% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelby County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.8% vs 4.7%).

Education

31.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.2%.