Shelby County, TN

County

Demographics of Shelby

Median Age

Bachelor's Degree+

34.4%

Households with Children

30.3%

School Enrollment K-12

115,181

Age Distribution

Population breakdown by life stage — from children to seniors. Reveals the generational mix of the community.

Early Childhood (0-4): 6.8%
School Age (5-17): 18.6%
Young Adults (18-34): 23.4%
Working Age (35-54): 24.6%
Pre-Retirement (55-64): 11.8%
Seniors (65+): 14.8%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Educational Attainment

Highest level of education completed by residents 25 and older. Reflects the academic profile of the area.

Less than High School: 10.1%
High School / GED: 27.3%
Some College or Associate's: 28.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 34.3%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Household Type

Household composition by family type and presence of children. Helps understand the family character of the area.

Families with Kids: 14.8%
Single Parents: 15.5%
Couples & Adults: 30.3%
Living Alone: 39.4%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic composition based on U.S. Census self-identification. Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity that may overlap with any race.

White: 32.7%
Hispanic or Latino: 8.8%
Asian: 2.9%
Black or African American: 52.3%
Other Race / Two or More Races: 3.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources·Fair Housing Policy

Hispanic Population by Origin

Hispanic or Latino origin is asked separately from race — a person can be both Hispanic and any race.

Mexican: 52.2%
Puerto Rican: 4.2%
Cuban: 2.6%
Dominican: 0.9%
Central American: 25.3%
South American: 8.7%
Other Hispanic or Latino: 6.2%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

White Population by Ancestry

Ancestry reflects how residents self-identify culturally, not necessarily country of birth.

European: 42.5%
Middle Eastern or North African: 1.3%
Other White: 56.3%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Black Population by Origin

Heritage and national origins within the Black or African American population, as reported to the Census.

African American: 50.4%
Sub-Saharan African: 1.0%
Caribbean: 0.2%
Other Black: 48.5%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Place of Birth

Where residents were born — in-state, from other U.S. states, or from abroad. Reflects the community's migration patterns.

Born in Same State: 62.4%
Born in Other U.S. State: 28.8%
Born Outside U.S. (American): 0.9%
Foreign-Born Naturalized: 2.8%
Foreign-Born Non-Citizen: 5.1%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Language Spoken at Home

Languages spoken by residents at home. Shows the linguistic diversity and cultural makeup of the area.

English Only: 88.8%
Spanish: 6.9%
European & Indo-European: 1.6%
East & Southeast Asian: 1.6%
Arabic: 0.5%
Other: 0.6%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

School Enrollment

Current school enrollment levels from pre-K through graduate school. Useful for families evaluating local education demand.

Preschool / Kindergarten: 3.3%
Elementary (1-4): 5.6%
Middle School (5-8): 5.7%
High School (9-12): 5.8%
College / Graduate: 5.4%
Not Enrolled: 74.2%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources

Cities in Shelby County

Neighborhoods in Shelby County

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024·Sources