The Town FilesShelbyville, Tennessee
City in Bedford County · population 23,557 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,000
- Household income
- $55,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 31.8
Shelbyville is a city of 23,557 people in Bedford County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $244,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 83% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 74% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Shelbyville ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shelbyville is worth $244,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $55,073, which is more affordable than 23% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,056 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shelbyville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,056 | $863 |
| Median household income | $55,073 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Shelbyville
| People | Shelbyville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Shelbyville
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 59.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelbyville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 11, 2008 about 2.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 5, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Bedford County since 1996
Bedford County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 21, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4594: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bedford County
Bedford County had 18,134 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,753 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Shelbyville itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Shelbyville
8 public schools with 5,821 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Central High School | 9-12 | 1,590 | 15.6 |
| Harris Middle School | 6-8 | 950 | 15.3 |
| Liberty Elementary | PK-8 | 685 | 15.6 |
| Learning Way Elementary | PK-5 | 671 | 12.9 |
| Eakin Elementary | PK-5 | 623 | 12.2 |
| Thomas Magnet School | PK-8 | 475 | 16.4 |
| East Side Elementary | PK-5 | 444 | 12.3 |
| South Side Elementary | PK-5 | 383 | 13.7 |
Towns near Shelbyville
- Christiana, TN15.2 mi · 4,305 people · home $361,900
- Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government, TN15.6 mi · 6,461 people · home $285,300
- Tullahoma, TN15.9 mi · 20,339 people · home $251,900
- Lewisburg, TN19.3 mi · 12,288 people · home $225,700
- Manchester, TN21.5 mi · 12,212 people · home $237,400
- Murfreesboro, TN24.4 mi · 152,769 people · home $402,100
- Fayetteville, TN25.0 mi · 7,068 people · home $230,800
- Winchester, TN29.0 mi · 9,375 people · home $216,900
Shelbyville questions
Is Shelbyville, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shelbyville scores better for retirees than 3% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 13%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Shelbyville?
The median owner-occupied home in Shelbyville is valued at $244,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,073, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,056 a month.
What is the weather like in Shelbyville?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Shelbyville get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shelbyville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 11, 2008. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)