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Shelby, NC
City in Cleveland County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28150.
Population
22,100
Land area
22.4sq mi
People per sq mi
988
ZIP codes
1
Shelby and its ZIP codes
Shelby at a glance
- Shelby is about 4.5 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 45th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $48,376 a year, 33% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $197,200 (32% below North Carolina) and median rent is $945 a month.
Local data for Shelby, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools10
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks12
- Post Offices1
- Parks8
- Grocery Stores19
- Restaurants142
- Affordable Housing8
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers7
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment9
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities9
- Historic Places8
Housing and community stats
Shelby, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$48,376
Poverty rate
17.6%
Median home value
$197,200
Median rent
$945/mo
Homeownership
59.9%
Bachelor's or higher
26.6%
Median age
39.3
Average commute
20.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,637), Irish Americans (1,210), Mexican Americans (479).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cleveland County. PPP loans are for Shelby.
Unemployment rate
4.3%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,935
35,958 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,181
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$706M
FY 2026, $7,097 per person
How people get to work
Shelby, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.6%
- Carpooled9.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home9.6%
Average one-way commute: 20.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Shelby, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
613
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
33
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 27°F
50.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone8 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Shelby, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.4%
U.S. 33.3% +8.1 pts
Diabetes
16.0%
U.S. 12.1% +3.9 pts
Smoking
17.0%
U.S. 12.8% +4.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.6%
U.S. 11.1% +0.5 pts
ZIP codes in Shelby
1 in or overlapping Shelby. Population shown
Cities near Shelby
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Light OakCensus-designated place | 3.6 mi | 1.4 |
| Patterson SpringsTown | 4 mi | 1 |
| EarlTown | 6.3 mi | 0.9 |
| KingstownTown | 6.7 mi | 1.8 |
| LattimoreTown | 7.1 mi | 1 |
| Boiling SpringsTown | 7.5 mi | 4.5 |
| WacoTown | 8.2 mi | 0.8 |
| MooresboroTown | 9 mi | 1.8 |
| LawndaleTown | 9 mi | 0.8 |
| GroverTown | 9.2 mi | 1 |
| DellviewTown | 10 mi | 0.1 |
| FallstonTown | 10 mi | 2.2 |
| PolkvilleCity | 11 mi | 1.9 |
| Blacksburg, SCTown | 11 mi | 1.9 |
| CherryvilleCity | 11 mi | 5.8 |
| Kings MountainCity | 11 mi | 14.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Shelby, NC in?
- Shelby is in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Shelby, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Shelby include 28150.
- What is the population of Shelby, NC?
- About 22,100 people live in Shelby, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Shelby?
- Nearby places include Light Oak (3.6 mi), Patterson Springs (4 mi), Earl (6.3 mi), Kingstown (6.7 mi), Lattimore (7.1 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023