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Shelby is a small town of 3,058 in Montana, with a median household income of $51,667
and a 1.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% 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: 90.5
Shelby's overall cost of living index is 90.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shelby costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shelby, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$181,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$720
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,667
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Shelby's violent crime rate is 211.1 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
211.1 /100k
Property Crime
1393.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shelby is served primarily by Shelby Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shelby, MT
National Avg
School District
Shelby Elem
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shelby sees average highs of 31.4°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 12.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.9 inches of snow per year.
Shelby's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shelby roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $181,300 and median rent is $720/month.
Shelby's violent crime rate is 211.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1393.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shelby are operated by Shelby Elem.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shelby, MT has a population of 3,058, a median household income of $51,667, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%.
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 31.4°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.1 inches
with about 38.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shelby, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59474.
The population of Shelby, Montana is 3,058 with a median age of 42.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shelby: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $181,300, median household income $51,667, crime index 60 (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.
