The Town FilesShelby, Michigan
Charter township in Macomb County · population 79,408 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $354,500
- Household income
- $91,012
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.5
Shelby is a charter township of 79,408 people in Macomb County, Michigan. The median home is worth $354,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 89% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Shelby ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelby is worth $354,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $91,012, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,346 a month. 74.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $354,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,346 | $955 |
| Median household income | $91,012 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shelby
| People | Shelby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Shelby
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1976 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on April 6, 2010.
Severe weather in Macomb County since 1996
Macomb County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Macomb County
Macomb County had 336,295 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Shelby itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Shelby
9 public schools with 7,541 students, about 20.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower High School | 10-12 | 1,724 | 21.0 |
| Shelby Junior High School | 7-9 | 1,075 | 24.4 |
| Malow Junior High School | 7-9 | 1,024 | 22.8 |
| Beacon Tree Elementary School | PK-6 | 752 | 19.8 |
| Richard J Duncan Elementary | PK-6 | 710 | 18.7 |
| Crissman Elementary School | PK-6 | 597 | 19.3 |
| Morgan Elementary School | PK-6 | 575 | 17.4 |
| Switzer Elementary School | PK-6 | 547 | 18.9 |
| Issac Monfort Elementary School | PK-6 | 537 | 17.9 |
Towns near Shelby
- Utica, MI3.1 mi · 5,245 people · home $231,100
- Rochester, MI4.3 mi · 13,035 people · home $473,200
- Macomb, MI6.1 mi · 91,663 people · home $387,000
- Rochester Hills, MI6.3 mi · 76,300 people · home $409,800
- Sterling Heights, MI6.4 mi · 134,346 people · home $274,300
- Washington, MI6.4 mi · 28,165 people · home $408,400
- Oakland, MI8.1 mi · 20,067 people · home $588,900
- Troy, MI8.3 mi · 87,294 people · home $420,300
Shelby questions
Is Shelby, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelby scores better for retirees than 48% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Shelby?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby is valued at $354,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,012, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,346 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelby?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 35.2 inches of snow.
Does Shelby get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)