The Town FilesShelby, Montana
City in Toole County · population 3,169 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,700
- Household income
- $58,413
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.7
Shelby is a city of 3,169 people in Toole County, Montana. The median home is worth $232,700, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks hipper than 80% of Montana towns, more walkable than 78% of Montana towns.
How Shelby ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelby is worth $232,700, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $58,413, which is more affordable than 59% of Montana towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,700 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $893 | $893 |
| Median household income | $58,413 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in Shelby
| People | Shelby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 86.6% |
Weather in Shelby
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 12.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 6, 1994 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 1994.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2022.
Severe weather in Toole County since 1996
Toole County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4801: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| August 30, 2018 | Flood | DR-4388: Flooding |
| May 24, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4271: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Toole County
Toole County had 1,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,786 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Shelby itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Shelby
4 public schools with 506 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Elementary School | PK-6 | 294 | 14.0 |
| Shelby High School | 9-12 | 129 | 9.9 |
| Shelby 7-8 | 7-8 | 69 | 13.8 |
| Big Rose Colony School | PK-8 | 14 | 14.0 |
Towns near Shelby
- Cut Bank, MT23.3 mi · 3,056 people · home $164,100
Shelby questions
Is Shelby, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelby scores better for retirees than 36% of Montana towns and quieter than 52%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Shelby?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby is valued at $232,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,413, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelby?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.1 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Shelby get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 6, 1994. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)