Checked
Shelby, MS
City in Bolivar County, Mississippi.
Population
1,700
Land area
2.7sq mi
People per sq mi
622
ZIP codes
0
Shelby and its ZIP codes
Shelby at a glance
- Shelby is about 9.9 times as dense as Mississippi as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $25,948 a year, 54% less than the Mississippi figure of $56,447.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $90,400 (47% below Mississippi) and median rent is $666 a month.
Local data for Shelby, MS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Shelby, MS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$25,948
Poverty rate
55.6%
Median home value
$90,400
Median rent
$666/mo
Homeownership
67.8%
Bachelor's or higher
22.0%
Median age
38.6
Average commute
36.7 min
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Bolivar County. PPP loans are for Shelby.
Unemployment rate
4.3%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$44,558
10,505 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,666
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$227M
FY 2026, $7,323 per person
How people get to work
Shelby, MS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.4%
- Carpooled20.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home0.0%
Average one-way commute: 36.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Shelby, MS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
522
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
384
2.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 33°F
54.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Shelby, MS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
55.1%
U.S. 33.3% +21.8 pts
Diabetes
28.0%
U.S. 12.1% +15.9 pts
Smoking
26.4%
U.S. 12.8% +13.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.8%
U.S. 11.1% +6.7 pts
Cities near Shelby
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WinstonvilleTown | 2.6 mi | 0.3 |
| Mound BayouCity | 5.2 mi | 0.9 |
| DuncanTown | 6.7 mi | 0.9 |
| MerigoldTown | 7.7 mi | 1 |
| AlligatorTown | 10 mi | 1 |
| GunnisonTown | 10 mi | 1 |
| SymondsCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.1 |
| RenovaTown | 12 mi | 0.9 |
| PaceTown | 12 mi | 0.2 |
| BoboCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.9 |
| ClevelandCity | 14 mi | 7.6 |
| Rena LaraCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 2.3 |
| BeulahTown | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| DrewCity | 16 mi | 1.1 |
| RosedaleCity | 17 mi | 5.4 |
| BoyleTown | 17 mi | 1.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Shelby, MS in?
- Shelby is in Bolivar County, Mississippi.
- What is the population of Shelby, MS?
- About 1,700 people live in Shelby, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Shelby?
- Nearby places include Winstonville (2.6 mi), Mound Bayou (5.2 mi), Duncan (6.7 mi), Merigold (7.7 mi), Alligator (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023