Shelby County, Missouri 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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C
Shelby County Below averageWealthier than 74% of counties in Missouri
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Shelby County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,143 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,143 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.1% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.3% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Shelby County is about 26% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Shelby County (2.9%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Shelby County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Shelby County, Missouri grew by 59.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,143 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Shelby County
| Metric | Shelby County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.528 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,765 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,799 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.6% | 20.6% | 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 0.528, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Shelby County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $348,810 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, Missouri has narrowed from about 28% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,172 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Shelby County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.6% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 46 people are unemployed in Shelby County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Shelby County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Shelby County, Missouri has fallen from 4.6% to 1.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.0% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2023.
Shelby County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Shelby County, MO is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,986 residents against a local median of 9,924. Where Shelby County, MO breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 38% below the local median of 4.7%/yr at 2.9%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.3%/yr on income growth, so Shelby County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Shelby County, MO has the 6th highest income growth 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, MO | 5,986 | $52,143 #6/6 | 2.9%/yr #6/6 | 1.8% #2/6 | 0.528 #4/6 |
| Monroe County, MO | 8,734 | $53,714 | 3.5%/yr | 1.8% | 0.524 |
| Knox County, MO | 3,756 | $56,891 | 5.3%/yr | 1.1% | 0.543 |
| Marion County, MO | 28,457 | $63,331 | 4.7%/yr | 3.8% | 0.528 |
| Lewis County, MO | 9,924 | $59,906 | 3.6%/yr | 5.1% | 0.523 |
| Macon County, MO | 15,163 | $62,559 | 6.8%/yr | 2.1% | 0.475 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Shelby County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Missouri, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Shelby County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Shelby County, Missouri?
Shelby County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $52,143, about 26% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Shelby County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Shelby County, Missouri rose 59%, from $32,710 to $52,143. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +59% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Shelby County, Missouri was $53,518, up 5% from $50,733 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Shelby County, Missouri was $43,734. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $52,143.
How strong is the job market in Shelby County, Missouri?
Unemployment in Shelby County, Missouri is only 1.8%, well below the Missouri rate of 4.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Shelby County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Shelby County is 0.528. 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, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Missouri has narrowed from about 28% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,172 since 2009.
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