The Town Files

Shelby County, Illinois

20,720 people. The median home is worth $137,100 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $72,095.

Towns in Shelby County

Towns in Shelby County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Shelbyville4,674$116,400$52,47039.9

People and housing

Shelby CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$137,100$156,600
Median rent$814$960
Median household income$72,095$72,500
Median age45.340.4
Bachelor's degree or higher18.3%21.8%
Below the poverty line9.2%9.9%

Jobs and pay

4,848 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,311 a year.

Largest industries in Shelby CountyManufacturing1,102 jobs · $66,441Health care & social assistan…604 jobs · $40,030Retail576 jobs · $32,066Hotels & restaurants340 jobs · $18,113Professional & technical serv…275 jobs · $73,718Construction197 jobs · $47,669
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Shelby County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 372 storm events in Shelby County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Shelby County by type since 1996Hail58Heat7Flood12Drought9Tornado27High Wind12Lightning7Heavy Snow19Flash Flood54Winter Storm15
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Shelby County has been included in 10 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
December 13, 2021TornadoEM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
May 10, 2013FloodDR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
February 9, 2007Severe Ice StormDR-1681: Severe Winter Storm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).