Shelby County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 922,195. It is the 1st most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 35.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $62,337. This is 7% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $229,700. Housing costs are 11% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 54.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelby County is Black or African American, making up 52.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (33.3%) is well below the state average of 71.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (52.6% vs 15.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.8% vs 1.8%).

Education

34.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shelby County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.