County profile · Kentucky
Shelby County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Shelby County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 51,243
- +6.2% since 2020
- Households
- 18,484
- Median household income
- $82,604
- +23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $304,800
- Jobs located here
- 16,455
- Highest market score
- 84
- Gas stations, #88 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Shelby County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 51,243 people live in Shelby County, in 18,484 households. Population estimates show Shelby County grew 6.2% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Shelby County is $82,604 a year, 2% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Shelby County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 145, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (79).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Shelby County are for gas stations (84), convenience stores (81) and spas and skin care studios (79). Shelby County ranks #88 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
Shelby County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area. For its number of households, Shelby County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for clothing and shoe stores (3.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for gyms and studios (38% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Shelby County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Shelby County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 84 | #88 of 2,358 | 22 | 11.9 | $2.8M | 117 | 14 |
| Convenience stores | 81 | #148 of 2,261 | 13 | 7.0 | $8.8M | 112 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 79 | #72 of 1,769 | 9 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 218 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 78 | #117 of 2,090 | 10 | 5.4 | $7.3M | 143 | 32 |
| Child care and preschools | 78 | #123 of 1,611 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.1M | 111 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 78 | #235 of 2,070 | 10 | 5.4 | $11.4M | 123 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 76 | #278 of 2,402 | 33 | 17.9 | $3.5M | 102 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 75 | #169 of 1,889 | 12 | 6.5 | $6.1M | 147 | 9 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 75 | #190 of 2,063 | 13 | 7.0 | $5.6M | 151 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 75 | #242 of 2,405 | 72 | 39.0 | $1M | 152 | 31 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 75 | #247 of 2,405 | 140 | 75.7 | $520K | 140 | 72 |
| Hair salons | 71 | #270 of 2,339 | 36 | 19.5 | $478K | 111 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 71 | #275 of 2,385 | 62 | 33.5 | $278K | 131 | 8 |
| Gyms | 70 | #231 of 1,792 | 9 | 4.9 | $1.6M | 123 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 69 | #246 of 1,490 | 7 | 3.8 | $3M | 127 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 68 | #283 of 1,451 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 109 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #522 of 2,272 | 26 | 14.1 | $2M | 160 | 22 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 67 | #222 of 1,334 | 6 | 3.2 | $2.4M | 119 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 66 | #374 of 2,088 | 17 | 9.2 | $847K | 128 | 9 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 65 | #560 of 2,222 | 25 | 13.5 | $2.9M | 96 | 32 |
| Barbershops | 63 | #389 of 1,356 | 8 | 4.3 | $2.2M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #351 of 1,328 | 9 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 60 | #251 of 887 | 6 | 3.2 | Index only | 123 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #629 of 2,057 | 22 | 11.9 | $2.5M | 103 | 41 |
| Auto repair shops | 59 | #767 of 2,378 | 37 | 20.0 | $520K | 117 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 58 | #476 of 1,302 | 7 | 3.8 | $3M | 97 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 58 | #566 of 1,530 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 110 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #876 of 2,401 | 66 | 35.7 | $291K | 108 | 34 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 56 | #754 of 2,176 | 37 | 20.0 | Index only | 143 | 19 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #721 of 1,707 | 13 | 7.0 | $4.2M | 89 | 22 |
| Real estate | 54 | #874 of 2,229 | 46 | 24.9 | Index only | 144 | 32 |
| Roofing and gutters | 53 | #529 of 1,177 | 7 | 3.8 | $7.8M | 93 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 53 | #762 of 1,771 | 21 | 11.4 | $1.3M | 80 | 32 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 51 | #640 of 1,327 | 6 | 3.2 | $3.2M | 104 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 46 | #844 of 1,493 | 17 | 9.2 | $1.7M | 56 | 22 |
| Veterinarians | 46 | #851 of 1,485 | 9 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 71 | 17 |
| Pet businesses | 46 | #1,291 of 2,200 | 29 | 15.7 | $596K | 68 | 24 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #896 of 1,422 | 10 | 5.4 | $2.1M | 89 | 10 |
| Pet stores | 41 | #645 of 974 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #1,323 of 1,886 | 22 | 11.9 | $970K | 99 | 19 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 35 | #1,291 of 1,656 | 24 | 13.0 | $889K | 50 | 31 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 32 | #2,034 of 2,394 | 210 | 113.6 | $102K | 67 | 67 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 31 | #1,699 of 2,087 | 103 | 55.7 | $348K | 27 | 64 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 31 | #1,838 of 2,210 | 117 | 63.3 | $306K | 35 | 64 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $624K | 92 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $4.3M | 170 | 7 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $11.9M | 76 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $9.4M | 146 | 7 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | Index only | 173 | 6 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $27.4M | Too few | 12 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $9.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $7.2M | Too few | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $35.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $28.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $21.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Shelby County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $19.2M | $1,040 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $61.4M | $3,322 | 128 |
| Food away from home | $72.9M | $3,941 | 97 |
| Groceries | $114.3M | $6,184 | 98 |
| Personal care products and services | $17.2M | $931 | 93 |
| Child care and other personal services | $8.9M | $483 | 83 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $14.4M | $779 | 79 |
| Medical and dental services | $21.3M | $1,155 | 90 |
| Pets | $17.3M | $935 | 103 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $35.8M | $1,938 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $52.3M | $2,831 | 145 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $54.8M | $2,967 | 98 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $28.1M | $1,518 | 107 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $287.8M | $15,572 | 93 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Shelby County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 51,243+6.2% since 2020
- Households
- 18,484
- Median age
- 41.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 380 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 129
- Median household income
- $82,604+23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $104,252
- Median home value
- $304,800
- Jobs located here
- 16,455
- Daytime population
- 41,644Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Shelby County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Kentucky 8
- Spencer County, KY20,193 people
- Henry County, KY15,856 people
- Oldham County, KY69,257 people
- Franklin County, KY51,842 people
- Anderson County, KY24,353 people
- Jefferson County, KY783,022 people
- Bullitt County, KY84,027 people
- Trimble County, KY8,550 people
Questions
How fast is Shelby County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Shelby County at 51,243 people in 2025, up 6.2% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,484 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in Shelby County, KY spend?
Households in Shelby County spend about $287.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $114.3M on groceries and $72.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Shelby County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 145, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (79).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Shelby County, KY?
Of the business types scored in Shelby County, gas stations (84), convenience stores (81) and spas and skin care studios (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #88 of 2,358 scored counties.
How does Shelby County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Shelby County is $82,604, 2% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $304,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for clothing and shoe stores (3.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for gyms and studios (38% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 44 of the 56 business types have a score in Shelby County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Shelby County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Shelby County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.