Skip to main content

Shelby County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Shelby County, Ohio has a population of 48,007, the 50th most populous county in Ohio. The median household income is $72,822 and the median home value is $190,300. The poverty rate is 11.1%.

Shelby County Quick Facts

Population 48,007
Median Household Income $72,822
Median Home Value $190,300
Poverty Rate 11.1%
Unemployment Rate 4.6%
Median Age 40.1 years
Homeownership Rate 73.8%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.6%
High School Graduation 91.4%
Cities/Places 11
Population 48,007 50th of 88
Median Income $72,822 5% higher than state
Poverty Rate 11.1%
Unemployment 4.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.1%
$25K-$50K 21.3%
$50K-$100K 33.0%
$100K+ 33.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.0%
$10K-$15K
2.6%
$15K-$20K
2.5%
$20K-$25K
4.1%
$25K-$30K
3.7%
$30K-$35K
4.0%
$35K-$40K
3.9%
$40K-$45K
4.1%
$45K-$50K
5.6%
$50K-$60K
6.9%
$60K-$75K
11.0%
$75K-$100K
15.1%
$100K-$125K
10.6%
$125K-$150K
7.6%
$150K-$200K
8.3%
$200K+
7.1%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
66.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.8%
Renter 26.2%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

16out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 40 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Shelby County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Sidney20,457$59,56013.4%$159,300
Minster3,213$91,2502.1%$258,000
Anna1,800$84,9175.9%$160,100
Fort Loramie1,460$88,1944.8%$245,000
Jackson Center1,369$59,72815.7%$138,200
Botkins1,018$78,7503.4%$187,500
Russia733$75,0005.5%$255,000
Port Jefferson361$50,71413.1%$109,400
Lockington169$55,75013.0%$156,800
Kettlersville115$71,2500.0%$147,500
Newport (Shelby County)57$57,3210.0%N/A

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Ohio with a total population of 48,007. It is the 50th most populous county out of 88 in Ohio. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 40.1 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,822. This is 5% higher than the state median of $69,680. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $190,300. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $199,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Shelby County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shelby County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.8% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Shelby County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Ohio 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, Ohio?

Shelby County has a population of 48,007, making it the 50th most populous county in Ohio.

What is the median income in Shelby County?

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,822 with a poverty rate of 11.1%.

How many cities are in Shelby County, Ohio?

Shelby County contains 11 Census-designated places.