Shelbyville city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Shelbyville city is a small city located in Tennessee. The total population is 24,125. It ranks as the 30th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelbyville city is 32.0 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 38.9 years. With 29.6% of the population under 18, Shelbyville city has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelbyville city is $52,290. This is 22% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.3%. This is 47% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $224,700. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 48.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelbyville city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (29.2% vs 7.1%). The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

11.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% lower 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 78.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shelbyville city, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 504 Census-designated places in Tennessee. For official data, visit data.census.gov.