Shelby County, TX Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,755 | 30,143,883 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 29.7 | 112.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.90% | 1.36% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.9 | 35.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 9,177 | 10,745,192 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Shelby County declined by 8.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 24,108 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Shelby County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,519 | $76,510 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.74% | 4.76% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Shelby County is about 34% lower than in Texas.
Housing
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $164,772 | $248,418 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $832 | $1,338 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.0% | 62.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Shelby County is about 16.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $832 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Shelby County spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 142 hours, about 5.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.1 | 22.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.2 | 45.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 142 | 190 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,414 | $5,877 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 12.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,350 | 9,879 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 357 | 1,441 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Texas:
Loving County (3.4 min), Terrell County (5.1 min), Culberson County (6.1 min).
Slowest:
Bandera County (37.3 min), Liberty County (33.7 min), Wilson County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Shelby County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Texas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Shelby County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 29.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.61 | 2.70 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Texas:
Collin County (0.4), Travis County (0.4), Fort Bend County (0.4).
Lowest:
Kenedy County (0.0), Hudspeth County (0.1), La Salle County (0.1).
Health
Shelby County has a health index of D, which means it is barely healthy.
| Metric | Shelby County | Texas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.2 | 78.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 23.3% | 21.1% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.7% | 19.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Texas:
Collin County (0.8), Travis County (0.8), Denton County (0.8).
Lowest:
Starr County (0.7), Brooks County (0.7), Presidio County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shelby County, Texas.
What is the population of Shelby County, Texas?
The population of Shelby County, Texas is 24,755, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Shelby County, Texas?
The population density of Shelby County, Texas is 29.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Shelby County, Texas?
The median household income in Shelby County, Texas is $50,519, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Shelby County, Texas?
The median home price in Shelby County, Texas is $164,772, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Shelby County, Texas?
The unemployment rate in Shelby County, Texas is 4.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.