The Town Files

Shelby County, Kentucky

49,096 people. The median home is worth $304,800 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $82,604.

Towns in Shelby County

Towns in Shelby County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Shelbyville17,282$257,100$75,61034.8
Simpsonville2,990$270,800$91,18834.2

People and housing

Shelby CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$304,800$161,450
Median rent$1,033$837
Median household income$82,604$54,969
Median age40.939.1
Bachelor's degree or higher32.8%19.8%
Below the poverty line9.7%18.0%

Jobs and pay

16,556 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,073 a year.

Largest industries in Shelby CountyManufacturing3,531 jobs · $66,862Retail2,482 jobs · $34,108Hotels & restaurants1,488 jobs · $22,410Health care & social assistan…1,358 jobs · $59,343Administrative & support1,119 jobs · $50,659Construction817 jobs · $63,980
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Shelby County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 308 storm events in Shelby County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.

Storm events in Shelby County by type since 1996Hail51Flood12Tornado9High Wind8Ice Storm6Lightning4Heavy Rain2Heavy Snow13Flash Flood26Frost/Freeze5
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Shelby County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 16, 2025Severe StormEM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides
April 10, 2023Severe StormDR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
December 12, 2021TornadoDR-4630: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Tornadoes
December 11, 2021TornadoEM-3575: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Tornadoes
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).