State rank#1 of 95
Smallest county919,173 residentsShelby County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 47157
Shelby County, Tennessee
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population919,173
Household income$63,767
Unemployment4.5%
Life expectancy71.8 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Shelby County has 919,173 residents and ranks #1 by population among Tennessee county equivalents. Median household income is $63,767. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Tennessee
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Shelby County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Shelby County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $249,100 median home value and $1,232/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,767, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Shelby County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, primary care access, and mental health access. College attainment is 34.3% and life expectancy is 71.8 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.3%, rank #8 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,167 residents, rank #8 of 89 available Tennessee counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 493 residents, rank #13 of 91 available Tennessee counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,232/mo, rank #85 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 4.5%, rank #81 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $249,100, rank #71 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Tennessee
Rank and range use only counties in Tennessee with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$63,767
$63,767; above the state county median of $59,341.
State rank #29 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$249,100
$249,100; above the state county median of $204,700.
State rank #71 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,232/mo
$1,232/mo; above the state county median of $839/mo.
State rank #85 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.5%
4.5%; above the state county median of 3.8%.
State rank #81 of 95 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
34.3%
34.3%; above the state county median of 18.5%.
State rank #8 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
71.8 years
71.8 years; below the state county median of 71.9 years.
State rank #53 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
22.4%
22.4%; below the state county median of 22.5%.
State rank #45 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
11.4%
11.4%; below the state county median of 11.9%.
State rank #36 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,167 residents
1 per 1,167 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,761 residents.
State rank #8 of 89 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 493 residents
1 per 493 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,595 residents.
State rank #13 of 91 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Shelby County FAQ
Is Shelby County a good place to live?
Shelby County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, primary care access, and mental health access. College attainment is 34.3% and life expectancy is 71.8 years.
What should I know before moving to Shelby County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $249,100 median home value and $1,232/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,767, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Shelby County?
Shelby County has 919,173 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Shelby County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 47157; the parent state FIPS is 47.
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
The ACS median household income is $63,767.
How much does housing cost in Shelby County?
Housing benchmarks are $249,100 median home value and $1,232/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,767, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Shelby County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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