1st Advantage MortgageIn Shelby County, Ohio, the typical household earns $73,978 a year and the typical rent is $922. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Ohio before sharing details.
On this page
- Shelby County by the numbers
- How much Shelby County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Shelby County
- Work, industries and travel time in Shelby County
- The communities that make up Shelby County
- The counties around Shelby County
- Who lives in Shelby County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
- Debt-to-income at Shelby County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Shelby County
- Who licenses lenders for Shelby County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Shelby County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Shelby County's population at 47,929; only 49 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 408 square miles, that is close to 118 residents for every square mile of land. 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 11 Census places inside Shelby County, Sidney leads by population with about 20,501; 10 of the 11 are incorporated.
How much Shelby County households make
Half of Shelby County households take in less than $73,978 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Ohio median of $71,389. That places it 26th among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Shelby County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.8% | -5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.7% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -1.9 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.6% of Shelby County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.419 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Shelby County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $922 in Shelby County versus $1,034 statewide. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $208,100, a typical Shelby County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1974.
| Measure | Shelby County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $922/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $208,100 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Shelby County
Manufacturing employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 36% locally and 15% for Ohio. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Shelby County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Where residents work | Shelby County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 35.9% | +21.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -4.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -4.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Other services | 5.2% | +0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Shelby County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Shelby County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $93,750 at the median in Fort Loramie, $60,668 in Sidney. Live in one of these Shelby County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney | city | 20,501 | $60,668 | $869 | 4 mi |
| Minster | village | 3,182 | $88,000 | $918 | 10 mi |
| Anna | village | 1,699 | $80,788 | $1,114 | 4 mi |
| Fort Loramie | village | 1,467 | $93,750 | $836 | 9 mi |
| Jackson Center | village | 1,339 | $64,900 | $630 | 11 mi |
| Botkins | village | 956 | $80,000 | $842 | 8 mi |
| Russia | village | 638 | $61,685 | $931 | 13 mi |
| Port Jefferson | village | 306 | $57,083 | $850 | 6 mi |
| Lockington | village | 154 | $57,083 | $675 | 9 mi |
| Kettlersville | village | 121 | $113,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Newport | CDP | 96 | $73,375 | n/a | 9 mi |
The counties around Shelby County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Auglaize County leads the group on income ($78,660), Darke County trails ($64,486), and Shelby County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | - | $73,978 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Auglaize County, OH | 16 mi | $78,660 | $868/mo | 78% |
| Miami County, OH | 20 mi | $76,817 | $966/mo | 73% |
| Logan County, OH | 23 mi | $71,551 | $845/mo | 78% |
| Darke County, OH | 26 mi | $64,486 | $779/mo | 72% |
| Mercer County, OH | 26 mi | $76,782 | $804/mo | 80% |
| Champaign County, OH | 27 mi | $75,556 | $905/mo | 77% |
Who lives in Shelby County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 4.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Shelby County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Shelby County borrowers.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Shelby County's medians
Shelby County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Shelby County: $6,165
- Housing at the median rent of $922 uses 15%
- $1,544: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Shelby County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Shelby County residents
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shelby County a high-income county?
Its $73,978 median ranks 26th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Shelby County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $922 against $1,034 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Sidney?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Shelby County, such as Minster, Anna, Fort Loramie.
Will a Shelby County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Shelby County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.