Shelby County, Kentucky
Among the top 7% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 36% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 27% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 49% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 58% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 93% of US counties
- top 8% for airport distance
- top 9% for broadband access
Shelby County is a county in Kentucky with about 48,000 residents. It grades A for lifestyle & connectivity and C for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, broadband access, and sales tax. It rates lower on monthly owner costs and cost of living.
Official websiteshelbycounty.ky.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cold winters · Wet · Snowy
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71%41%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in3.5 in
muggy 97%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$81k88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$50kbetter than 22% of US counties
Home Value$248k80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$939better than 29% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 27% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.82%better than 52% of US counties
Income Tax5.78%better than 31% of US counties
State 4.50% + Local 1.28%
Sales Tax6.00%better than 84% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden10.28%better than 35% of US counties
Unemployment3.3%better than 78% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)34°F51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)77°F51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation50.0 in73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall15.1 inbetter than 46% of US counties
Sunny Days229 daysbetter than 39% of US counties
Summer Humidity67°Fbetter than 41% of US counties
Comfortable Days78 daysbetter than 46% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk61.9better than 37% of US counties
School Quality57.6better than 56% of US counties
Violent Crime710/100kbetter than 55% of US counties
Property Crime870/100kbetter than 52% of US counties
Community
Population48,10568th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.642nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3053rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9728th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3040th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)79.4%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)5.0%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)9.6%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.1%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.9%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 36% of US counties
Walkability5.6/20better than 36% of US counties
Airport Distance27 mibetter than 92% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.8%better than 91% of US counties
Amenities Nearby6.24better than 74% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 65% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Shelby County an affordable place to live?
- Shelby County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $50k, better than 22% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Shelby County?
- The median home value in Shelby County is $248k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Shelby County?
- Median household income in Shelby County is $81k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Shelby County?
- Median gross rent in Shelby County is $939 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Shelby County safe?
- Shelby County is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 710/100k (better than 55%). Property crime is 870/100k.
- What is the weather like in Shelby County?
- Shelby County averages 77°F in July and 34°F in January, with 50.0 in of annual precipitation and about 229 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Shelby County?
- Public-school quality in Shelby County is about average, scoring better than 56% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Shelby County?
- The average one-way commute in Shelby County is 26 min.
Other counties in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)