City in Cleveland County, North Carolina · 22.4 sq mi · 1,053 people per sq mi
About 24,000 people live in Shelby. The typical household earns $48,376, and the median resident is 39.3 years old.
2026 projection
From 21,939 in 2020
Poverty rate 17.57%
Men 36.6 · Women 42.3
1880–2026
23,531
2026 projection
7.3% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
1880–2026
23,531
2026 projection
7.3% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
| 2026 | 23,531 | +222 | 0.95% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23,309 | +480 | 2.10% |
| 2024 | 22,829 | +755 | 3.42% |
| 2023 | 22,074 | +208 | 0.95% |
| 2022 | 21,866 | -36 | 0.16% |
| 2021 | 21,902 | -37 | 0.17% |
| 2020 | 21,939 | +1,924 | 9.61% |
| 2019 | 20,015 | -22 | 0.11% |
| 2018 | 20,037 | +5 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 20,032 | -12 | 0.06% |
Showing 10 of 30 years.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S0101
Each square is about 1% of residents (roughly 221 people).
Hispanic or Latino residents can be of any race. All other groups exclude Hispanic residents.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table B03002
Half of households earn more, half earn less
Typical yearly pay for a worker 25 or older.
About 1 in 6 residents
41% of residents age 15 and older are married.
| Status | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married | 41% | 45% | 38% |
| Never married | 36% | 38% | 35% |
| Divorced | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| Widowed | 7% | 3% | 10% |
| Separated | 4% | 3% | 4% |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S1201
10 sources, all from the U.S. Census Bureau