1st Advantage MortgageThe median Shelby County household earns $97,961, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Shelby County at a glance
- Household income in Shelby County
- Employment and commuting in Shelby County
- Housing costs in Shelby County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Shelby County
- The counties around Shelby County
- Shelby County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
- Room for a loan payment in Shelby County
- A Shelby County borrower's checklist
- Alabama rules that apply in Shelby County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Shelby County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Shelby County's population at 230,211; only 5 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 785 square miles of land, or about 293 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area. Hoover is the biggest of its 24 Census places, at roughly 92,642 people (40% of the county total).
Household income in Shelby County
At $97,961, the typical Shelby County household income is 49% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Shelby County | Gap to Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.7% | -13.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | -5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.8% | +9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.3% | +8.6 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.2%, 8 points lower than the state's 15.6%. A household earning below the $97,961 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Shelby County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Shelby County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 11% locally and 6% for Alabama. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 2.5% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Shelby County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.9% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | -6.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Shelby County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Shelby County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,401 in Shelby County versus $1,007 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Shelby County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $326,100, or 3.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1997.
| Shelby County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,401/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $326,100 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.4% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Shelby County
24 Census places fall mainly inside Shelby County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 261,416 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $218,333 at the median in Shoal Creek, $47,917 in Brantleyville. Rent is cheapest in Wilton ($481) and steepest in Shoal Creek ($2,766). No Shelby County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 24.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover | city | 92,642 | $109,253 | $1,457 | 11 mi |
| Alabaster | city | 33,917 | $91,357 | $1,372 | 10 mi |
| Pelham | city | 24,827 | $101,094 | $1,577 | 6 mi |
| Helena | city | 21,769 | $115,139 | $1,574 | 13 mi |
| Calera | city | 17,714 | $87,194 | $1,601 | 11 mi |
| Chelsea | city | 16,260 | $115,337 | $1,414 | 3 mi |
| Meadowbrook | CDP | 9,117 | $141,862 | $1,365 | 9 mi |
| Brook Highland | CDP | 8,146 | $79,904 | $1,460 | 12 mi |
| Montevallo | city | 7,556 | $56,626 | $956 | 15 mi |
| Highland Lakes | CDP | 5,866 | $169,361 | $1,201 | 9 mi |
| Columbiana | city | 4,725 | $80,546 | $940 | 6 mi |
| Eagle Point | CDP | 3,110 | $151,842 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Indian Springs Village | city | 2,537 | $136,836 | $2,264 | 8 mi |
| Westover | town | 2,298 | $96,932 | $1,048 | 10 mi |
The counties around Shelby County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 37 miles). St. Clair County leads the group on income ($77,463), Bibb County trails ($52,541), and Shelby County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | - | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
| Jefferson County, AL | 24 mi | $66,388 | $1,193/mo | 64% |
| Chilton County, AL | 29 mi | $65,603 | $871/mo | 77% |
| Talladega County, AL | 29 mi | $57,776 | $785/mo | 72% |
| Bibb County, AL | 32 mi | $52,541 | $733/mo | 79% |
| Coosa County, AL | 33 mi | $57,355 | $665/mo | 82% |
| St. Clair County, AL | 37 mi | $77,463 | $1,084/mo | 83% |
Shelby County residents: age, schooling, coverage
47% of Shelby County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| Shelby County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.8% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
Based on the Shelby County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Consolidation math. With 49% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Room for a loan payment in Shelby County
How much room does a median Shelby County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $8,163 gross per month ($97,961 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,401 uses 17%
- $1,538: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Shelby County's.
A Shelby County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Shelby County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Alabama rules that apply in Shelby County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Shelby County, check the Alabama State Banking Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Shelby County earn?
The median is $97,961; 49% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Shelby County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,401 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Shelby County?
By population: Hoover, Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, Calera. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Does living in Shelby County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Shelby County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Shelby County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alabama it is the Alabama State Banking Department.