Shelby, NC

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2021 Population

98,898

1.16% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

41.6

0.716% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

18.3%

4.13% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$45,646

4.9% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$135,700

4.38% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

42,543

2.7% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Shelby, NC had a population of 98.9k people with a median age of 41.6 and a median household income of $45,646. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Shelby, NC grew from 97,765 to 98,898, a 1.16% increase and its median household income grew from $43,512 to $45,646, a 4.9% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Shelby, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (71.8%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (20.2%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.83%), Other (Hispanic) (1.88%), and White (Hispanic) (1.7%).

None of the households in Shelby, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.7% of the residents in Shelby, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Shelby, NC are Gardner-Webb University (1,141 degrees awarded in 2021) and Cleveland Community College (840 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Shelby, NC was $135,700, and the homeownership rate was 68.7%.

Most people in Shelby, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.5 minutes. The average car ownership in Shelby, NC was 2 cars per household.

Shelby, NC borders Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, Forest City, NC, Gaffney, SC, and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.

United States North Carolina

Population & Diversity

Shelby, NC is home to a population of 98.9k people, from which 98.7% are citizens. As of 2021, 2.51% of Shelby, NC residents were born outside of the country (2.48k people).

In 2021, there were 3.56 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (71.1k people) in Shelby, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 19.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.79k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.7%

2021 Citizenship

98.7%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 98.7% of Shelby, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Shelby, NC was 98.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Shelby, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Shelby, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
71.1k ± 241
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
19.9k ± 577
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
2.79k ± 607

3.93%

Hispanic Population

3.89k people

3.93% of the people in Shelby, NC are hispanic (3.89k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Shelby, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
219,250 ± 11,374 people
India
77,157 ± 6,794 people
Honduras
37,868 ± 4,769 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 219,250 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 77,157 and Honduras with 37,868.

Foreign-Born Population

2.51%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

2.48k people

2.4%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

2.34k people

As of 2021, 2.51% of Shelby, NC residents (2.48k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Shelby, NC was 2.4%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Shelby, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,272 ± 394
Gulf War (2001-)
801 ± 209
Gulf War (1990s)
794 ± 252

Shelby, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.84 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Shelby, NC employs 42.5k people. The largest industries in Shelby, NC are Manufacturing (8,497 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,001 people), and Retail Trade (5,762 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($51,250), Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($44,735), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($44,729).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $52,490. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

42.5k

2021 Value

± 1,773

2.7%

1 Year growth

± 5.6%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Shelby, NC grew at a rate of 2.7%, from 41.4k employees to 42.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Shelby, NC, are Production Occupations (5,603 people), Sales & Related Occupations (4,302 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,866 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Shelby, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

42.5k

2021 Value

± 1,773

2.7%

1 Year growth

± 5.6%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Shelby, NC grew at a rate of 2.7%, from 41.4k employees to 42.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Shelby, NC, are Manufacturing (8,497 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,001 people), and Retail Trade (5,762 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Shelby, NC, though some of these residents may live in Shelby, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$36,218

Median earning men ± $1,337

$28,061

Median earning women ± $1,416

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Information ($71,071), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($54,653), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($52,218).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($42,843), Wholesale Trade ($36,750), and Public Administration ($35,764).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

698
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
479
Manufacturing
448
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.13M
Manufacturing
$692k
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$117k
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $53.7B, followed by Pharmaceuticals ($49.7B) and Machinery ($44.5B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound North Carolina products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for North Carolina.

$462B

2020 Value in North Carolina

$926B

Projected 2050 Value in North Carolina

100% growth

In 2020, total outbound North Carolina trade was $462B. This is expected to increase 100% to $926B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound North Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

South Carolina
$32.8B
Virginia
$26.1B
Georgia
$18.1B

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was South Carolina with $32.8B, followed by Virginia with $26.1B and Georgia and $18.1B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that North Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 49.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.881%).

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Shelby, NC. Showing the available data for North Carolina.

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (49.9%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.881%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 49.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.881%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in North Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Ted Budd

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Shelby, NC awarded 1,981 degrees. The student population of Shelby, NC in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 2,051 male students and 3,815 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Shelby, NC are White (1,340 and 67.7%), followed by Black or African American (377 and 19.1%), Unknown (106 and 5.36%), and Hispanic or Latino (88 and 4.45%).

The largest universities in Shelby, NC by number of degrees awarded are Gardner-Webb University (1,141 and 57.6%) and Cleveland Community College (840 and 42.4%).

The most popular majors in Shelby, NC are General Educational Leadership & Administration (234 and 11.8%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (196 and 9.89%), and General Business Administration & Management (188 and 9.49%).

The median tuition cost in Shelby, NC for private four year colleges is $31,220.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Shelby, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 78.9%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 10%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 5,866 (35% men and 65% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 5,866 students enrolled in Shelby, NC, 35% men and 65% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,563 records, of which 65.7% were women and 34.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
101 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
47 degree-majors awarded
Community Psychology
32 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Shelby, NC was Registered Nursing with 101 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Shelby, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Gardner-Webb University
1,141 degrees awarded
Cleveland Community College
840 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Gardner-Webb University with 1,141 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 645 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Shelby, NC, which is 0.483 times less than the 1,336 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,340 degrees mean that there were 3.55 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 377 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($31,220) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($980) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2021, 0.886% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.756% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (2.13M), Some college (1.85M), and Bachelors Degree (1.58M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Shelby, NC was $135,700 in 2021, which is 0.554 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $130,000 to $135,700, a 4.38% increase. The homeownership rate in Shelby, NC is 68.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Shelby, NC have an average commute time of 24.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Shelby, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Shelby, NC is $45,646. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Shelby, NC was Wake County, NC with a value of $88,471, followed by Union County, NC and Currituck County, NC, with respective values of $88,465 and $79,416.

Housing

Property

$135,700

Median Property Value 2021

±$6,530

$25,196

Median Property Taxes

±$1,186

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Shelby, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Shelby, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

68.7%

Homeownership

2021

68.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 68.7% of the housing units in Shelby, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Shelby, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Shelby, NC was Wake County, NC with a value of $88,471, followed by Union County, NC and Currituck County, NC, with respective values of $88,465 and $79,416.

The following map shows all of the counties in Shelby, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$45,646

Median Household Income

± $1,866

36.7k

Number of Households

± 1,503

In 2021, the median household income of the 36.7k households in Shelby, NC grew to $45,646 from the previous year's value of $43,512.

The following chart displays the households in Shelby, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Shelby, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2021 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.47

2020 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2021, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.00774% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (83.5%)
Carpooled (9.27%)
Worked At Home (4.02%)

In 2021, 83.5% of workers in Shelby, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.27%) and those who worked at home (4.02%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

24.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Shelby, NC have a shorter commute time (24.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.98% of the workforce in Shelby, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Shelby, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Shelby, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Shelby, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

18.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Shelby, NC (17.8k out of 97k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Females 45 - 54.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Shelby, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

88.6% of the population of Shelby, NC has health coverage, with 40% on employee plans, 20.8% on Medicaid, 14.4% on Medicare, 11.4% on non-group plans, and 1.91% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1399 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.427% decrease from the previous year (1405 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1710 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 363 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

1,399 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in North Carolina

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see an average of 1,399 patients per year. This represents a 0.427% decrease from the previous year (1,405 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in North Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.5% under 18 years, 19.5% between 18 and 34 years, 38.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.4% were men and 52.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11.4%

Uninsured

40%

Employer Coverage

20.8%

Medicaid

14.4%

Medicare

11.4%

Non-Group

1.91%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Shelby, NC declined by 0.332% from 11.4% to 11.4%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Shelby, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.