Cost of Living in Shelby County, Texas
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 #543 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 17%)
Sourced county brief
Shelby County median home value estimated at 101,500 dollars
The median home value in Shelby County was estimated at $101,500, which is below the Texas unweighted county mean of $185,237. Median gross rent was $781, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $995. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 23.8%, which is 3.1 percentage points lower than the Texas unweighted county mean of 26.9%. For owners, median selected monthly owner costs for all units reached $589, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $877. The median renter-household income in the county was estimated at $36,450. Household income for all tenures was $49,776. These data points provide a snapshot of housing costs from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25077 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 23.8% 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 $781 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $589. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,240 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 Texas unweighted mean of county median rents is $995 per month. Shelby County's $781 median is 21.5% 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
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,161
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Shelby County
Median home value is $101,500. Estimated monthly cost: $810 vs. your max of $1,161.
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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