What are the schools like in Shelby, OH?

Shelby is served primarily by Shelby City. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.0:1.

What is the median household income in Shelby?

The median household income in Shelby, OH is $55,355 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Shelby, OH?

Shelby has an average high temperature of 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Shelby, OH affordable or expensive?

Shelby's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shelby is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $114,700 and the median rent is $723 per month.

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

Shelby has a violent crime rate of 270.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1134.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shelby, OH a Good Place to Live?

Shelby is a small town of 8,360 in Ohio, with a median household income of $55,355 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Shelby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 86.6

Shelby's overall cost of living index is 86.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shelby costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Shelby, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$114,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$723	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,355	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Shelby's violent crime rate is 270.1 per 100,000 residents — 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

270.1 /100k

Property Crime

1134.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Shelby is served primarily by Shelby City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shelby, OH	National Avg
School District	Shelby City	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shelby sees average highs of 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July, with 43.1 inches of annual precipitation and 49.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shelby, OH
Average High — January	34.4°F
Average High — July	83.4°F
Annual Precipitation	43.1"
Annual Snowfall	49.2"

Demographics

Metric	Shelby, OH	National Avg
Population	8,360	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	26.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tiro, OH 6 mi Shiloh, OH 7 mi Plymouth, OH 8 mi Ontario, OH 8 mi Crestline, OH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Shelby

Shelby, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

44875

Shelby vs Other Cities

Shelby, OH vs Tiro, OH Shelby, OH vs Shiloh, OH Shelby, OH vs Plymouth, OH Shelby, OH vs Ontario, OH Shelby, OH vs Crestline, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shelby, OH affordable or expensive?

Shelby's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shelby roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $114,700 and median rent is $723/month.

What is the crime rate in Shelby, OH?

Shelby's violent crime rate is 270.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1134.5 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 Shelby City. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.0:1. 16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shelby, OH a good place to live?

Shelby, OH has a population of 8,360, a median household income of $55,355, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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 34.4°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.1 inches with about 49.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shelby?

Shelby, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 44875.

What is the population of Shelby?

The population of Shelby, Ohio is 8,360 with a median age of 40.8. 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 87 (100 = US average), median home $114,700, median household income $55,355, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.