Shelby, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Shelby, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The City of Shelby had a population of 22,322 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Shelby is located at latitude 35.2924 and longitude -81.5356 in Cleveland County. The formal boundaries for the City of Shelby encompass a land area of 21.1 sq. miles and a water area of 0.04 sq. miles. Cleveland County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

The City of Shelby has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The City of Shelby is located within , a minor civil division (MCD) of Cleveland County.

Jump to... (On This Page!)

Shelby, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	22,322 (100%)
Population in Households	21,656 (97.0%)
Population in Families	17,036 (76.3%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	666 ( 3.0%)
Population Density	998
Diversity Index²	63


INCOME
Median Household Income	$52,830
Average Household Income	$76,969
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	29%
Per Capita Income	$32,471
Wealth Index⁵	62
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Low (44.8)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	10,242 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	4,970 (48.5%)
Renter Occupied HU	4,403 (43.0%)
Vacant Housing Units	869 ( 8.5%)
Median Home Value	$241,779
Average Home Value	$296,619
Housing Affordability Index³	82

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	9,373
Average Household Size	2.31
Family Households	5,478
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

10,242 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

4,970 (48.5%)

Renter Occupied HU

4,403 (43.0%)

Vacant Housing Units

869 ( 8.5%)

Median Home Value

$241,779

Average Home Value

$296,619

Housing Affordability Index³

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

9,373

Average Household Size

2.31

Family Households

5,478

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	0.35%	0.55%
Households	0.40%	0.66%
Families		0.55%
Median Household Income		1.79%
Per Capita Income		1.50%
Owner Occupied HU		0.82%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

0.35%

0.55%

Households

0.40%

0.66%

Families

0.55%

Median Household Income

1.79%

Per Capita Income

1.50%

Owner Occupied HU

0.82%

Shelby, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Shelby to the other 776 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in North Carolina by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 45	94th
Population Density	# 215	72nd
Median Household Income	# 527	32nd
Housing Affordability Index	# 286	37th
Per Capita Income	# 421	46th
Diversity Index	# 239	69th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 45

94th

Population Density

# 215

72nd

Median Household Income

# 527

32nd

Housing Affordability Index

# 286

37th

Per Capita Income

# 421

46th

Diversity Index

# 239

69th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Shelby, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Shelby, North Carolina - Basic Facts

Shelby, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Shelby, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Shelby, NC - Most Popular Things to Do

Use HTL Address Research for a North Carolina Address and get...

Quick & Easy Ways to...

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Cleveland County