Population
20,576
2025
−1.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Shelby County, IL: population growth, jobs and income
Shelby County gained 22 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Shelby County had an estimated 20,576 residents in 2025, down 1.6% (345 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Illinois as a whole (−0.6%), and the 42nd fastest growth of 102 counties in Illinois.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Shelby County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Shelby County, ranked against Illinois and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$814/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes11.4%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months442025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+110
2025
5.3 per 1,000 residents
+102 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
2025
+0.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
46
2025
+64.3% since 2021
2.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$72,095
2020–24
+21.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
4,312
2023
−3.7% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 110 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 4,312 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −3.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.9% in 2025, 0.3 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 46 new homes in 2025, or 2.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $72,095 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,378th.
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Shelby County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20,576 | +22 |
| 2024 | 20,554 | −50 |
| 2023 | 20,604 | −117 |
| 2022 | 20,721 | −155 |
| 2021 | 20,876 | −45 |
| 2020 | 20,921 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Shelby County
Shelby County lost 345 people since 2020 even though 102 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 453, and net international migration added 11.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −86 | −453 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +0 | +11 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +110 | +102 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −2 | −5 | |
| Total change | +22 | −345 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Illinois | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 42nd of 102 | 2,378th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 11th of 102 | 1,016th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 67th of 102 | 2,344th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 34th of 102 | 1,034th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 25th of 102 | 1,405th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 10th of 98 | 1,432nd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Shelby County, IL as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Shelby County's population change (−1.6%) was ahead of 3 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 5.
2 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Shelby County's $72,095 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County, IL This county | 20,576 | −1.6% | 5.3 | 2.2 | $72,095 |
| Moultrie County, IL | 14,371 | −0.8% | −5.1 | 2.0 | $71,784 |
| Effingham County, IL | 34,519 | −0.5% | −1.6 | 1.4 | $80,404 |
| Macon County, IL | 99,300 | −4.3% | −4.7 | 0.4 | $62,666 |
| Fayette County, IL | 20,790 | −3.2% | −4.6 | 0.1 | $60,944 |
| Cumberland County, IL | 10,208 | −2.1% | −4.7 | 0.0 | $73,327 |
| Coles County, IL | 46,607 | −1.0% | −0.3 | 0.3 | $56,478 |
| Christian County, IL | 33,443 | −1.5% | 2.6 | 1.8 | $62,611 |
| Montgomery County, IL | 28,076 | −0.6% | 11.9 | 0.4 | $63,620 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Shelby County growing?
No. Its population fell 1.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 345 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Illinois as a whole changed −0.6% over the same years. That ranks 42nd of 102 counties in Illinois for population growth.
How many people moved to Shelby County?
On net, about 110 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Shelby County?
It averaged 3.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Shelby County?
About 20,576 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Shelby County?
Private employers there had 4,312 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −3.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Illinois
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Illinois county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Shelby County data alerts
Email me when Shelby County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.