The Town FilesShelby, Mississippi
City in Bolivar County · population 2,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,400
- Household income
- $25,948
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.6
Shelby is a city of 2,021 people in Bolivar County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $90,400, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 70% of Mississippi towns.
How Shelby ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelby is worth $90,400, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $25,948, which is more affordable than 20% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $666 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelby | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,400 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $666 | $820 |
| Median household income | $25,948 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Shelby
| People | Shelby | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 55.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 36.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Shelby
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 66 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Bolivar County since 1996
Bolivar County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bolivar County
Bolivar County had 10,569 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,457 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Shelby itself the ACS puts it at 13.4%.
Public schools in Shelby
1 public school with 365 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 365 | 12.6 |
Towns near Shelby
- Mound Bayou, MS5.3 mi · 1,534 people · home $65,700
- Renova, MS12.0 mi · 676 people · home $105,700
- Cleveland, MS14.4 mi · 11,199 people · home $159,300
- Drew, MS16.6 mi · 1,852 people · home $66,300
- Boyle, MS17.0 mi · 532 people · home —
- Rosedale, MS17.1 mi · 1,584 people · home $103,600
- Tutwiler, MS19.6 mi · 2,476 people · home $58,900
- Ruleville, MS19.9 mi · 2,642 people · home $85,000
Shelby questions
Is Shelby, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelby scores better for retirees than 70% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 67%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Shelby?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby is valued at $90,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,948, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $666 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelby?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Shelby get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)