Cost of Living in Shelby County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Shelby County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Shelby County ranks #1,365 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 43%)
Sourced county brief
Shelby County Renter Median Income Reported at 48,854 Dollars
In Shelby County, the median renter-household income was recorded at $48,854. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) for the county was 22.3%, which is 3.8 percentage points lower than the Illinois unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.1%. Median gross rent was $814, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $867. Homeowners in the county faced a median home value of $137,100, while the state unweighted county mean was $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs were $842 per month, below the state unweighted county mean of $960. These metrics provide a summary of housing-related costs and income for the county based on 2020-2024 5-year estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Shelby County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 22.3% of renter household income in Shelby County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $814 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $842. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Shelby County's $814 median is 6.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Shelby County
Rent Burden
13.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,682
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Shelby County
Median home value is $137,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,095 vs. your max of $1,682.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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