Shelby County, Indiana Income Statistics
Shelby County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Shelby County Around averageWealthier than 77% of counties in Indiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Shelby County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,014 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,294 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.7% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Shelby County is about the same as in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in Shelby County (3.8%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Shelby County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Shelby County, Indiana grew by 39.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,014 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Shelby County
| Metric | Shelby County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.518 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,224 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,204 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.9% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Shelby County, it is 0.518, lower than Indiana's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 26% more than women's income in Shelby County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $490,700 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015, and was narrowest at 20% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $296 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Shelby County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.0% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 817 people are unemployed in Shelby County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Shelby County is 21 minutes, about the same as in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Shelby County, Indiana has fallen from 8.0% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2022.
Shelby County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Shelby County, IN is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 45,265 residents against a local median of 83,536. The measure that sets Shelby County, IN apart most is unemployment: 3.6%, 19% above the local median of 3.0%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Shelby County, IN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Shelby County, IN has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County, IN | 45,265 | $72,014 #4/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 3.6% #4/6 | 0.518 #4/6 |
| Hancock County, IN | 84,037 | $95,052 | 4.4%/yr | 2.7% | 0.496 |
| Johnson County, IN | 166,315 | $90,779 | 4.6%/yr | 3.0% | 0.521 |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 83,536 | $79,839 | 4.5%/yr | 4.1% | 0.532 |
| Rush County, IN | 16,739 | $67,628 | 4.8%/yr | 4.3% | 0.504 |
| Decatur County, IN | 26,422 | $71,462 | 4.2%/yr | 2.6% | 0.502 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Shelby County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Indiana, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Shelby County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Shelby County, Indiana?
Shelby County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,014, close to the Indiana average of $71,967.
How fast is household income rising in Shelby County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Shelby County, Indiana rose 39%, from $51,660 to $72,014. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Indiana as a whole: +39% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Shelby County, Indiana was $71,517, up 7% from $67,046 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Shelby County, Indiana was $59,772. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $72,014.
What is the Gini coefficient in Shelby County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Shelby County is 0.518. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Shelby County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2015, and was narrowest at 20% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $296 since 2009.
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