What are the schools like in Shelby, MS?

Shelby is served primarily by North Bolivar Consolidated. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Shelby?

The median household income in Shelby, MS is $28,827 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 16.8%.

What is the weather like in Shelby, MS?

Shelby has an average high temperature of 51.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Shelby, MS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Shelby, MS affordable or expensive?

Shelby's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shelby is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $84,800 and the median rent is $622 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Shelby, MS?

Shelby has a violent crime rate of 323.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1743.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shelby, MS a Good Place to Live?

Shelby is a small town of 1,751 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $28,827 and a 16.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Shelby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 86.2

Shelby's overall cost of living index is 86.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shelby costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Shelby, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$84,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$622	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$28,827	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Shelby's violent crime rate is 323.2 per 100,000 residents — 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

323.2 /100k

Property Crime

1743.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Shelby is served primarily by North Bolivar Consolidated. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shelby, MS	National Avg
School District	North Bolivar Consolidated	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shelby sees average highs of 51.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shelby, MS
Average High — January	51.7°F
Average High — July	91.8°F
Annual Precipitation	54.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Shelby, MS	National Avg
Population	1,751	—
Median Age	42.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	16.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	1.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	97.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Winstonville, MS 3 mi Mound Bayou, MS 5 mi Duncan, MS 6 mi Merigold, MS 8 mi Alligator, MS 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Shelby

Shelby, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

38774

Shelby vs Other Cities

Shelby, MS vs Winstonville, MS Shelby, MS vs Mound Bayou, MS Shelby, MS vs Duncan, MS Shelby, MS vs Merigold, MS Shelby, MS vs Alligator, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shelby, MS affordable or expensive?

Shelby's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shelby roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $84,800 and median rent is $622/month.

What is the crime rate in Shelby, MS?

Shelby's violent crime rate is 323.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1743.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Shelby?

Public schools in Shelby are operated by North Bolivar Consolidated. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shelby, MS a good place to live?

Shelby, MS has a population of 1,751, a median household income of $28,827, and an unemployment rate of 16.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in Shelby?

Shelby averages 51.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shelby?

Shelby, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38774.

What is the population of Shelby?

The population of Shelby, Mississippi is 1,751 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shelby?

Key numbers for living in Shelby: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $84,800, median household income $28,827, crime index 84 (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.