The Town FilesShelby, Ohio
City in Richland County · population 9,282 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,200
- Household income
- $58,351
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.1
Shelby is a city of 9,282 people in Richland County, Ohio. The median home is worth $122,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 71% of Ohio towns, easier by car than 71% of Ohio towns.
How Shelby ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelby is worth $122,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $58,351, which is more affordable than 83% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $780 | $914 |
| Median household income | $58,351 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Shelby
| People | Shelby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in Shelby
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 14, 2024 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4777: Tornadoes |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| April 24, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3286: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 48,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Shelby itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Shelby
4 public schools with 2,984 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Career & Technology | 5-12 | 1,115 | 11.9 |
| Shelby Elementary School | PK-5 | 916 | 21.8 |
| Shelby High School | 9-12 | 522 | 19.3 |
| Shelby Middle School | 6-8 | 431 | 18.0 |
Towns near Shelby
- Ontario, OH8.4 mi · 6,656 people · home $174,500
- Crestline, OH8.4 mi · 4,525 people · home $104,600
- Mansfield, OH10.6 mi · 47,534 people · home $119,600
- Willard, OH12.0 mi · 6,197 people · home $115,700
- Galion, OH12.0 mi · 10,453 people · home $112,700
- Lexington, OH14.8 mi · 4,848 people · home $192,300
- Bucyrus, OH17.3 mi · 11,684 people · home $128,600
- Ashland, OH18.0 mi · 19,225 people · home $157,900
Shelby questions
Is Shelby, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelby scores better for retirees than 26% of Ohio towns and quieter than 32%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Shelby?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby is valued at $122,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,351, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelby?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Shelby get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 14, 2024. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)