Shelby is a small town of 799 in Alabama, with a median household income of $28,403
.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shelby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Shelby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shelby city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Shelby's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shelby costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shelby, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$94,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
100.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$28,403
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shelby's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
71.2 /100k
Property Crime
559.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shelby is served primarily by Shelby County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shelby, AL
National Avg
School District
Shelby County
—
Elementary Schools
16
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
9
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shelby sees average highs of 55.7°F in January
and 91.1°F in July,
with 57.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.1 inches of snow per year.
Shelby's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shelby roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $94,300 and median rent is N/A/month.
Shelby's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 559.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shelby are operated by Shelby County.
The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shelby, AL has a population of 799, a median household income of $28,403, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Shelby averages 55.7°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.9 inches
with about 1.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shelby, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35143.
The population of Shelby, Alabama is 799 with a median age of 56.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shelby: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $94,300, median household income $28,403, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shelby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.