Shelby County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Shelby County, Kentucky has a population of 49,096, the 20th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $82,604 and the median home value is $304,800. The poverty rate is 9.7%.
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 | 48,599 | 49,096 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $82,671 | $82,604 | -0.1% |
| Median home value | $277,500 | $304,800 | +9.8% |
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
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Shelby County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville | 17,668 | $75,610 | 14.5% | $257,100 |
| Simpsonville | 3,062 | $91,188 | 6.8% | $270,800 |
| Pleasureville | 1,123 | $49,932 | 10.9% | $153,400 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Shelby County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 49,096. It is the 20th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
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 $82,604. This is 30% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $304,800. Housing costs are 48% higher than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 73.9% 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 77.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.0%. The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.0% vs 5.0%).
Education
32.8% 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 19% higher than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.
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 Kentucky 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, Kentucky?
Shelby County has a population of 49,096, making it the 20th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Shelby County?
The median household income in Shelby County is $82,604 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.
How many cities are in Shelby County, Kentucky?
Shelby County contains 3 Census-designated places.