Shelby County, Tennessee Demographics 2026
Shelby County, Tennessee has a population of 919,173, the 1st most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $63,767 and the median home value is $249,100. The poverty rate is 17.8%.
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 | 922,195 | 919,173 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $62,337 | $63,767 | +2.3% |
| Median home value | $229,700 | $249,100 | +8.4% |
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 diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Shelby County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 618,980 | $51,736 | 23.1% | $169,000 |
| Bartlett | 56,876 | $102,070 | 5.1% | $310,400 |
| Collierville | 51,515 | $138,598 | 3.2% | $485,900 |
| Germantown | 40,673 | $149,920 | 2.7% | $470,800 |
| Arlington | 15,205 | $135,105 | 4.9% | $424,400 |
| Lakeland | 14,192 | $116,250 | 3.2% | $388,900 |
| Millington | 11,289 | $49,979 | 16.5% | $207,300 |
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Population Overview
Shelby County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 919,173. It is the 1st most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shelby County is 35.9 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shelby County is $63,767. This is 8% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 54% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $249,100. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelby County is Black or African American, making up 52.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 32.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (32.7%) is well below the state average of 71.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (52.3% vs 15.4%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.9% vs 1.9%).
Education
34.3% 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 10% higher than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.
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 Tennessee 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, Tennessee?
Shelby County has a population of 919,173, making it the 1st most populous county in Tennessee.
What is the median income in Shelby County?
The median household income in Shelby County is $63,767 with a poverty rate of 17.8%.
How many cities are in Shelby County, Tennessee?
Shelby County contains 7 Census-designated places.