Cost of Living in Shelby County, Ohio
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 #1,949 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 38%)
Sourced county brief
Shelby County Median Rent as Percentage of Household Income is 24.5%
In Shelby County, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income was estimated at 24.5%. This official GRAPI metric is 2.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent in the county was $922 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $904. For owner-occupied properties, the median monthly owner cost was $957, slightly below the state unweighted county mean of $974. The median home value was recorded at $208,100, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $196,325. Median renter-household income for the county was $45,421. These data points provide a housing cost snapshot for the 2020-2024 interval. 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 24.5% 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 $922 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $957. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,880 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 Ohio unweighted mean of county median rents is $904 per month. Shelby County's $922 median is 2.0% above 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
15.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,726
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Shelby County
Median home value is $208,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,661 vs. your max of $1,726.
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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