Shelby County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Shelby County, Illinois had an estimated 20,542 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,978, across 759 square miles. County output reached $1.10 bn in 2024, 422 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 7 7(a) approvals worth $3.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Shelby County
How many people live in Shelby County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,720
- Households8,918
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$72,095
- Median age45.3
- Median gross rent$814 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$137,100
- Home value to household income1.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,001
- Population under 184,412
- Share under 1821.3 percent
- Population 65 and over4,905
- Share 65 and over23.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,403
- Civilian labor force10,373
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.6 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties56th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1839th of 3,222
Shelby County is the 56th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 1.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.7 percent against 21.3 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Shelby County
Is Shelby County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,542
- Census 2020 base population20,978
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.08 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-51
- Births, 2024197
- Deaths, 2024283
- Natural change, 2024-86
- Net domestic migration, 202436
- Net international migration, 20241
- Total net migration, 202437
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-6
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2515th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.08 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Shelby County
Where are people moving to Shelby County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving445
- People arriving, from those returns802
- Tax returns filed by households leaving469
- Net household movement-24
- Adjusted gross income arriving$23.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$690,000
- Average income of an arriving household$53,409
- Average income of a leaving household$49,205
- Largest single originMacon County (67 households)
- Largest single destinationChristian County (62 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | 67 | 120 | $3.4 m |
| Christian County | 62 | 117 | $4.2 m |
| Effingham County | 61 | 113 | $2.4 m |
| Coles County | 47 | 80 | $1.7 m |
| Moultrie County | 36 | 58 | $1.7 m |
| Fayette County | 22 | 59 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $4,204 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Macon County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Shelby County
What is the Shelby County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.08 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.0 percent
- GDP change over five years39.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes60th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1763rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$52,972
Output grew 2.0 percent in the latest year and 39.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Shelby County
Employment by industry in Shelby County
- Covered employment, annual average4,848
- Establishments reporting468
- Average annual pay$48,311
- Average weekly wage$929
- Manufacturing, employment1,102
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,441
- Health care and social assistance, employment604
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$40,030
- Retail trade, employment576
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,066
- Accommodation and food services, employment340
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,113
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment275
- Construction, employment197
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,102 | 15 | $66,441 |
| Health care and social assistance | 604 | 27 | $40,030 |
| Retail trade | 576 | 59 | $32,066 |
| Accommodation and food services | 340 | 40 | $18,113 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 275 | 23 | $73,718 |
| Construction | 197 | 53 | $47,669 |
| Wholesale trade | 183 | 24 | $69,305 |
| Other services, except public administration | 146 | 49 | $39,774 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,102 jobs, 22.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Shelby County
How many businesses are in Shelby County?
- Establishments, all industries422
- Employment at those establishments4,312
- Annual payroll$223.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Shelby County
Building permits in Shelby County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$1.3 m
- Single family units authorized9
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$144,444
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.0
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Shelby County
SBA loans in Shelby County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded7
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$445,029
- Median 7(a) approval$443,000
- Largest single approval$950,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)134
- Jobs per approval19.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active4
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer28.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals28.6 percent
- Most active lenderPeoples Bank & Trust (3)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.2 m
- Average 504 approval$601,000
- Median 504 approval$601,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval19.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved31.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$4.3 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Shelby County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Shelby County
Do SBA loans in Shelby County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure4
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Shelby County
SBA lending by place in Shelby County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Shelbyville, approvals3
- Moweaqua, approvals2
- Windsor, approvals1
- Sigel, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville | 3 | $2,087,500 |
| Moweaqua | 2 | $665,200 |
| Windsor | 1 | $262,500 |
| Sigel | 1 | $100,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Shelby County
How large is Shelby County?
- Land area759 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties18th of 102
- Width, east to west35.8 mi
- Height, north to south30.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land27
- Establishments per square mile0.56
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Shelby County
Flood risk in Shelby County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Shelby County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 170933
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP0
- NFIP participation rate0.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Shelby County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Shelby County (community 170933), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Shelby County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 0.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Shelby County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Shelby County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,720
- Households8,918
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$72,095
- Median age45.3
Common questions
Shelby County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Shelby County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,542 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 20,720, in 8,918 households, ranking 56th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Shelby County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.08 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,978, to 20,542 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 197 births against 283 deaths, with net migration of 37. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
$72,095. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $137,100, which is 1.9 times income, and median gross rent is $814 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Shelby County?
422 establishments, employing 4,312 people with an annual payroll of $223.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Shelby County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,102 jobs, 22.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,848 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,311, or $929 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Shelby County?
7 7(a) approvals totaling $3.1 m since FY2020, across 4 lenders, with a median approval of $443,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Shelby County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.3 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Shelby County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Shelby County come from?
The largest single origin is Macon County, with 67 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,409 against $49,205 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Shelby County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Shelby County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Shelby County
Cities and places in Shelby.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Shelby County. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pana | city | 5,217 | None recorded | 21.0 percent here, 79.0 percent Christian County |
| Shelbyville | city | 4,351 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Moweaqua | village | 1,915 | 2 | 78.5 percent here, 21.5 percent Christian County |
| Windsor | city | 877 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Stewardson | village | 756 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Findlay | village | 674 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cowden | village | 534 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Strasburg | village | 507 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sigel | town | 439 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Tower Hill | village | 422 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Herrick | village | 333 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oconee | village | 193 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Westervelt | CDP | 134 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lakewood | CDP | 16 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |