Shelby County, TN

County

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2021 Population

929,178

0.794% 1-year decline

US Senator

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party

US Senator

Bill Hagerty

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

35.7

0% 1-year change

2021 Poverty Rate

18.6%

2.19% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$55,015

5.61% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$170,200

7.25% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

427,711

0.92% 1-year decline

About

In 2021, Shelby County, TN had a population of 929k people with a median age of 35.7 and a median household income of $55,015. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Shelby County, TN declined from 936,611 to 929,178, a −0.794% decrease and its median household income grew from $52,092 to $55,015, a 5.61% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Shelby County, TN are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (53.6%), White (Non-Hispanic) (34.9%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.75%), White (Hispanic) (2.61%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.53%).

None of the households in Shelby County, TN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96% of the residents in Shelby County, TN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Shelby County, TN are University of Memphis (4,820 degrees awarded in 2021), The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (487010) (1,477 degrees), and Southwest Tennessee Community College (221485) (1,181 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Shelby County, TN was $170,200, and the homeownership rate was 55.6%.

Most people in Shelby County, TN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Shelby County, TN was 2 cars per household.

Shelby County, TN borders Crittenden County, AR, Mississippi County, AR, DeSoto County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Fayette County, TN, and Tipton County, TN.

About the photo: skyline

Photo by Nicolas Henderson

United States Tennessee Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Population & Diversity

Shelby County, TN is home to a population of 929k people, from which 96% are citizens. As of 2021, 6.65% of Shelby County, TN residents were born outside of the country (61.8k people).

In 2021, there were 1.54 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (498k people) in Shelby County, TN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 324k White (Non-Hispanic) and 25.6k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96%

2021 Citizenship

96.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 96% of Shelby County, TN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Shelby County, TN was 96.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Shelby County, TN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Shelby County, TN

Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
498k ± 1.61k
White (Non-Hispanic)
324k ± 762
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
25.6k ± 613

6.6%

Hispanic Population

61.3k people

6.6% of the people in Shelby County, TN are hispanic (61.3k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Shelby County, TN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Tennessee.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
86,142 ± 7,160 people
India
24,764 ± 3,857 people
Guatemala
18,995 ± 3,379 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee was Mexico, the natal country of 86,142 Tennessee residents, followed by India with 24,764 and Guatemala with 18,995.

Foreign-Born Population

6.65%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

61.8k people

6.5%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

60.9k people

As of 2021, 6.65% of Shelby County, TN residents (61.8k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Shelby County, TN was 6.5%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Shelby County, TN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
15,456 ± 972
Gulf War (2001-)
9,521 ± 1,000
Gulf War (1990s)
9,194 ± 933

Shelby County, TN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.62 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Shelby County, TN employs 428k people. The largest industries in Shelby County, TN are Health Care & Social Assistance (61,971 people), Transportation & Warehousing (56,468 people), and Retail Trade (42,802 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($67,714), Utilities ($60,000), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($59,800).

Males in Tennessee have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,162. The income inequality in Tennessee (measured using the Gini index) is 0.463, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

428k

2021 Value

± 5,934

−0.92%

1 Year decline

± 1.99%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Shelby County, TN declined at a rate of −0.92%, from 432k employees to 428k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Shelby County, TN, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (54,203 people), Management Occupations (40,782 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (38,293 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Shelby County, TN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Tennessee (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

428k

2021 Value

± 5,934

−0.92%

1 Year decline

± 1.99%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Shelby County, TN declined at a rate of −0.92%, from 432k employees to 428k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Shelby County, TN, are Health Care & Social Assistance (61,971 people), Transportation & Warehousing (56,468 people), and Retail Trade (42,802 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Shelby County, TN, though some of these residents may live in Shelby County, TN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$41,772

Median earning men ± $689

$34,102

Median earning women ± $584

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($74,089), Public Administration ($63,761), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($52,623).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($45,374), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($45,027), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($40,975).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Tennessee. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Tennessee.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

8,482
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
5,549
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
4,671
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$10.9M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$6.92M
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services
$6.67M
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Tennessee to other states, or from other states to Tennessee.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Tennessee product (by dollars) was Electronics with $51.3B, followed by Motorized vehicles ($50.3B) and Pharmaceuticals ($49.5B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Tennessee products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Tennessee.

$471B

2020 Value in Tennessee

$1.05T

Projected 2050 Value in Tennessee

123% growth

In 2020, total outbound Tennessee trade was $471B. This is expected to increase 123% to $1.05T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Tennessee trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Tennessee to other states, or from other states to Tennessee.

Most Common Trade Partners

Georgia
$34.2B
Texas
$26.7B
Kentucky
$21B

In 2020, the top outbound Tennessee domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Georgia with $34.2B, followed by Texas with $26.7B and Kentucky and $21B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Tennessee shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Shelby County, TN went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 64.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34%), followed by Other (1.61%).

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing the state of Tennessee. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (64.4%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (34%)
Republican Party
Other (1.61%)
Other Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Shelby County, TN went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 64.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34%), followed by Other (1.61%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Shelby County, TN for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Tennessee

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

Marsha Blackburn

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Bill Hagerty

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing Tennessee.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Tennessee over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Tennessee

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Tennessee have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Shelby County, TN awarded 11,519 degrees. The student population of Shelby County, TN in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 16,393 male students and 28,913 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Shelby County, TN are White (5,208 and 46.5%), followed by Black or African American (4,020 and 35.9%), Hispanic or Latino (572 and 5.11%), and Unknown (544 and 4.86%).

The largest universities in Shelby County, TN by number of degrees awarded are University of Memphis (4,820 and 41.8%), The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (487010) (1,477 and 12.8%), and Southwest Tennessee Community College (221485) (1,181 and 10.3%).

The most popular majors in Shelby County, TN are Liberal Arts & Sciences (734 and 6.37%), Registered Nursing (634 and 5.5%), and General Business Administration & Management (526 and 4.57%).

The median tuition costs in Shelby County, TN are $17,468 for private four year colleges, and $8,871 and $16,929 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Shelby County, TN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 84.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 45,306 (36.2% men and 63.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 45,306 students enrolled in Shelby County, TN, 36.2% men and 63.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Black or African American with 18,282 records, of which 71.4% were women and 28.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
421 degrees awarded
Pharmaceutical Sciences
474 degrees awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
437 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Shelby County, TN was Registered Nursing with 421 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Shelby County, TN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of Memphis
4,820 degrees awarded
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (487010)
1,477 degrees awarded
Southwest Tennessee Community College (221485)
1,181 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of Memphis with 4,820 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 3,863 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Shelby County, TN, which is 0.505 times less than the 7,656 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 5,208 degrees mean that there were 1.3 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 4,020 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($17,468) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Private not-for-profit, 2-year ($1,625) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,600) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

Measure

In 2021, 0.767% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.729% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (1.73M), Some college (1.19M), and Bachelors Degree (920k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Shelby County, TN was $170,200 in 2021, which is 0.695 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $158,700 to $170,200, a 7.25% increase. The homeownership rate in Shelby County, TN is 55.6%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Shelby County, TN have an average commute time of 22.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Shelby County, TN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Shelby County, TN is $55,015. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Shelby County, TN was Census Tract 213.11 with a value of $183,038, followed by Census Tract 96 and Census Tract 211.39, with respective values of $143,021 and $139,154.

In 2022, 19.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Shelby County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.83%.

Housing

Property

$170,200

Median Property Value 2021

±$2,344

$197,116

Median Property Taxes

±$3,533

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Shelby County, TN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Shelby County, TN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

55.6%

Homeownership

2021

65.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 55.6% of the housing units in Shelby County, TN were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 54.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Shelby County, TN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 213.11
Census Tract 96
Census Tract 211.39

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Shelby County, TN was Census Tract 213.11 with a value of $183,038, followed by Census Tract 96 and Census Tract 211.39, with respective values of $143,021 and $139,154.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Shelby County, TN colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$55,015

Median Household Income

± $863

355k

Number of Households

± 5,251

In 2021, the median household income of the 355k households in Shelby County, TN grew to $55,015 from the previous year's value of $52,092.

The following chart displays the households in Shelby County, TN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Shelby County, TN is from Tennessee.

0.463

2021 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.463

2020 Wage GINI in Tennessee

In 2021, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.463 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.126% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Tennessee was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Tennessee in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Tennessee across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (82%)
Carpooled (8.95%)
Worked At Home (6.15%)

In 2021, 82% of workers in Shelby County, TN drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.95%) and those who worked at home (6.15%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Shelby County, TN have a shorter commute time (22.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.04% of the workforce in Shelby County, TN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Shelby County, TN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Shelby County, TN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Shelby County, TN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 19.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Shelby County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.83%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

18.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Shelby County, TN (169k out of 912k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Shelby County, TN is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2022, 27.1% of the children was living in poverty in Shelby County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 1.35k in Shelby County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 76.3 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

88.1% of the population of Shelby County, TN has health coverage, with 46.8% on employee plans, 18.6% on Medicaid, 9.61% on Medicare, 11.6% on non-group plans, and 1.53% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Shelby County, TN see 1139 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.89% decrease from the previous year (1161 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1333 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 617 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.1% were men and 53.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,139 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Shelby County, TN

Primary care physicians in Shelby County, TN see an average of 1,139 patients per year. This represents a 1.89% decrease from the previous year (1,161 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Shelby County, TN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.8% under 18 years, 22.3% between 18 and 34 years, 37.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.1% were men and 53.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11.9%

Uninsured

46.8%

Employer Coverage

18.6%

Medicaid

9.61%

Medicare

11.6%

Non-Group

1.53%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Shelby County, TN grew by 3.86% from 11.5% to 11.9%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Shelby County, TN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 82.7 in Shelby County, TN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Shelby County, TN.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 37.6% in Shelby County, TN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Shelby County, TN.

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