City

Shelby, NC

3 ZIP codes  ·  Cleveland County  ·  North Carolina

👥53,478Population
💰$54,492Median HH Income▼ 29% below avg
🎂41.3Median Age
🏠$191,860Median Home Value▼ 31% below avg
🎓41.0%College Grads≈ Avg
📊5.7%Unemployment▲ 16% above avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 47.8% Female 52.2% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 63.7%Hispanic: 4.2%Black: 24.6%Asian: 0.6%Other: 6.1%Race
White63.7%
Hispanic4.2%
Black24.6%
Asian0.6%
Other6.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
7%
5–17
16%
18–24
9%
25–44
23%
45–64
26%
65+
10%

Key Indicators

Median Age41.3 yrs
Avg HH Size2.56
Below Poverty16.9% ▲ 69% above avg
College Grads41.0% ≈ Avg
Unemployment5.7% ▲ 16% above avg
No HS Diploma436 (1.3%)
HS Graduate10,165 (30.3%)
Some College4,167 (12.4%)
Associates5,007 (14.9%)
Bachelors5,336 (15.9%)
Graduate Degree8,465 (25.2%)

Education

No HS: 1.3%HS Grad: 30.3%Some College: 12.4%Associates: 14.9%Bachelors: 15.9%Graduate: 25.2%Edu
No HS1.3%
HS Grad30.3%
Some College12.4%
Associates14.9%
Bachelors15.9%
Graduate25.2%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 68%Renter: 32%Tenure
Owner68.0%
Renter32.0%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
8%
$50k–$100k
11%
$100k–$150k
19%
$150k–$200k
16%
$200k–$300k
25%
$300k–$500k
15%
Over $500k
7%

Financials

Median HH Income$54,492 ▼ 29% below avg
Median Home Value$191,859 ▼ 31% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.5x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$849/mo
Total Housing Units24,616
Vacant Units3,975

Income Distribution

Under $25k
24%
$25k–$50k
19%
$50k–$75k
19%
$75k–$100k
12%
$100k–$150k
15%
$150k–$200k
5%
Over $200k
6%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
90%
Walked
1%
Work From Home
9%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
38%
15–30 min
34%
30–45 min
12%
Over 45 min
16%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
2%
1940s–1950s
11%
1960s–1970s
18%
1980s–1990s
15%
2000+
55%
About Shelby, NC

Shelby is a city in North Carolina, located in Cleveland County. The city spans 3 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 53,478 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 41.28 years.

Economically, Shelby is a working-class community. The median household income of $54,492 is below the national average. Approximately 16.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 5.7%, above the national average.

The real estate market in Shelby is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $191,859, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $849 per month. Homeownership is high at 68.0%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Shelby is well-educated. 41.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is majority White (63.68%).

Shelby, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina. Spread across 3 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Shelby
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28150 26,447 $53,027 $195,600 $793 5.3% 42.1% 68.3%
28152 27,031 $55,926 $188,200 $904 6.1% 39.9% 67.7%