1st Advantage MortgageIn Shelby County, Missouri, the typical household earns $51,594 a year and the typical rent is $625. 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 by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Shelby County
- Employment and commuting in Shelby County
- Housing costs in Shelby County
- The counties around Shelby County
- Shelby County towns compared
- More Shelby County figures
- What the numbers mean for Shelby County borrowers
- A Shelby County household budget, worked through
- A Shelby County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Shelby County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Shelby County by the numbers
With an estimated 5,986 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Shelby County ranks 105th of 115 in Missouri for population. It covers 501 square miles of land, or about 12 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Shelby County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 6 Census places inside Shelby County, Shelbina leads by population with about 1,653; 6 of the 6 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Shelby County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Shelby County
At $51,594, the typical Shelby County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Shelby County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.5% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.1% | -8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -5.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Shelby County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. 15.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). For a borrower in Shelby County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
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 manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Shelby County averages 1.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 4.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Shelby County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.9% | +8.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Shelby County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $625 in Shelby County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. Home values center on $99,900, or 1.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1971.
| Shelby County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $625/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $99,900 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.1% | 5.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Shelby County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The counties around Shelby County
Distances run center to center, from Monroe County at 21 miles out to Randolph County at 33. Marion County leads the group on income ($62,903), Randolph County trails ($53,033), and Shelby County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | - | $51,594 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Monroe County, MO | 21 mi | $54,516 | $689/mo | 74% |
| Knox County, MO | 24 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
| Marion County, MO | 24 mi | $62,903 | $808/mo | 69% |
| Macon County, MO | 25 mi | $62,357 | $672/mo | 77% |
| Lewis County, MO | 28 mi | $59,934 | $644/mo | 76% |
| Randolph County, MO | 33 mi | $53,033 | $760/mo | 71% |
Shelby County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Shelby County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 3,427 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Shelbyville has the highest median household income on the list ($52,250) and Clarence the lowest ($31,734), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $513 in Shelbyville to $756 in Shelbina. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbina | city | 1,653 | $47,500 | $756 | 8 mi |
| Clarence | city | 862 | $31,734 | $638 | 10 mi |
| Shelbyville | city | 621 | $52,250 | $513 | 3 mi |
| Hunnewell | city | 130 | $49,375 | $419 | 15 mi |
| Bethel | village | 126 | $65,938 | $392 | 7 mi |
| Leonard | village | 35 | $63,036 | n/a | 8 mi |
More Shelby County figures
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Shelby County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
What the numbers mean for Shelby County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Shelby County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
A Shelby County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Shelby County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Shelby County: $4,300
- Rent at the median, $625, takes 15% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $1,720 total minus rent leaves $1,095
If your rent is above $625, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Shelby County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Shelby County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Shelby County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Shelby County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
$51,594 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 97th of 115 in the state.
How does Shelby County rent compare with Missouri?
$625 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 39% below.
Should Shelby County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Shelby County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Shelby County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Shelbina, Clarence, Shelbyville, Hunnewell, Bethel and 1 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Shelby County or elsewhere in Missouri, the same rules apply.