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Shelby, NC

View of Shelby, NC
Image credit: Indy beetle / CC0
Population
23,309
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
859 ft
Median Home Value
$197,200
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$945/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$48,376
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024

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Shelby in context.

OverallBest places in North CarolinaPopulation rankingHighest population places in North CarolinaNearest larger communityGastonia, North Carolina21 miles away · 87,067 residents.

About Shelby

Shelby is a Cleveland County city west of Charlotte, with a traditional courthouse square and a stronger downtown identity than many small Piedmont cities. The area was originally home to Catawba and Cherokee peoples and was later settled by Europeans in the 1700s. Shelby serves as a county seat and local service center, with Cleveland County Schools, small businesses, and historic neighborhoods shaping daily life. Its location near Kings Mountain also places it close to Revolutionary War history and the western edge of the Charlotte region.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Lower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+100.0ratingOutskirts FitA+100.0ratingNearby Hospital Emergency DepartmentsA+98.6rating

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