Shelbyville, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Shelbyville, Kentucky had a total population of 17,668, the 25th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $75,610, which is 19% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Shelbyville Quick Facts
How Shelbyville 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 | 17,436 | 17,668 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $73,733 | $75,610 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $238,600 | $257,100 | +7.8% |
How Shelbyville Compares
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: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Shelbyville Rankings in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Other Cities in Shelby County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpsonville | 3,062 | $91,188 | 6.8% | $270,800 |
| Pleasureville | 1,123 | $49,932 | 10.9% | $153,400 |
Cities Similar to Shelbyville
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Matthews | 17,577 | $82,412 | $338,000 | 58.7% | 7.2% |
| Erlanger | 19,875 | $75,840 | $209,000 | 32.0% | 13.7% |
| Mount Washington | 18,480 | $96,239 | $268,200 | 26.1% | 5.3% |
| Fort Thomas | 17,169 | $104,350 | $335,000 | 55.3% | 6.2% |
| Danville | 17,327 | $52,646 | $207,600 | 26.5% | 17.4% |
Population Overview
Shelbyville is a small city located in Kentucky, within Shelby County. The total population is 17,668. It ranks as the 25th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shelbyville is 34.8 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shelbyville is $75,610. This is 19% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $257,100. Housing costs are 25% higher than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 56.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelbyville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (19.3% vs 5.0%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
26.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% lower 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 85.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Shelbyville, Kentucky 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 Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. 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, Kentucky?
Shelbyville, Kentucky has a population of 17,668 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Shelbyville, KY?
The median household income in Shelbyville is $75,610, which is 6% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Shelbyville, KY?
The poverty rate in Shelbyville is 14.5%. This means approximately 2,523 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Shelbyville, Kentucky?
Shelbyville's population is 67.1% White, 5.6% Black, 19.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Shelbyville, KY?
The median home value in Shelbyville is $257,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.
How educated is Shelbyville, Kentucky?
26.7% of adults (25+) in Shelbyville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.