The Town FilesShelby, New York
Town in Orleans County · population 4,907 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,000
- Household income
- $65,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 72 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 45.0
Shelby is a town of 4,907 people in Orleans County, New York. The median home is worth $136,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of New York towns, more walkable than 73% of New York towns, hipper than 71% of New York towns.
How Shelby ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelby is worth $136,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $65,655, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelby | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $788 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $65,655 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1943 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shelby
| People | Shelby | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Shelby
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Shelby since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 1985.
Severe weather in Orleans County since 1996
Orleans County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orleans County
Orleans County had 11,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,202 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Shelby itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Shelby
- Medina, NY3.2 mi · 6,047 people · home $107,200
- Ridgeway, NY6.2 mi · 6,598 people · home $149,900
- Oakfield, NY8.3 mi · 3,145 people · home $163,600
- Royalton, NY8.6 mi · 7,517 people · home $182,200
- Albion, NY9.7 mi · 7,639 people · home $102,400
- Hartland, NY10.3 mi · 3,874 people · home $183,000
- Albion, NY11.1 mi · 5,637 people · home $82,300
- Yates, NY11.5 mi · 2,567 people · home $141,000
Shelby questions
Is Shelby, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelby scores better for retirees than 47% of New York towns and quieter than 40%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Shelby?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelby is valued at $136,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,655, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelby?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 72.4 inches of snow.
Does Shelby get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Shelby in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)