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Shelby County, KY
2 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Shelby County, Kentucky.
Population
49,096
Land area
380sq mi
People per sq mi
129
ZIP codes
5
Cities and towns in Shelby County
Shelby County at a glance
- It is the 20th most populous of 120 counties in Kentucky.
- Households here earn a median of $82,604 a year, 30% more than the Kentucky figure of $63,726.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $304,800 (48% above Kentucky) and median rent is $1,033 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Shelbyville (17,668) and Simpsonville (3,062).
Local data for Shelby County, KY
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Shelby County, KY, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$82,604
Poverty rate
9.7%
Median home value
$304,800
Prices +4.0% in a year
Median rent
$1,033/mo
Homeownership
73.9%
Bachelor's or higher
32.8%
Median age
40.9
Average commute
27.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,941), Irish Americans (7,353), Mexican Americans (2,565).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$59,195
16,522 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,459
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$358M
FY 2026, $7,440 per person
PPP loans
$76.96M
1,091 loans, 10,759 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$338K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Shelby County, KY, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.0%
- Carpooled9.9%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home12.6%
Average one-way commute: 27.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Shelby County, KY, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
308
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
38
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 20°F
49.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone121 historic places
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Shelby County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Shelby County, KY?
- Shelbyville is the largest city or town in Shelby County, with about 17,668 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Shelby County?
- Shelby County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 40003, 40022, 40065, 40067, 40076.
- What is the population of Shelby County, KY?
- About 49,096 people live in Shelby County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Shelby County?
- Shelby County borders Jefferson County, Oldham County, Franklin County, Anderson County, Spencer County, Henry County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023