Cost of Living in Shelbyville
Shelbyville runs genuinely cheap by every cost-of-living measure found this session, though a real, disclosed 20.69% poverty rate is a meaningful counterpoint to the low-cost, high-growth narrative.
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Learn moreA low cost-of-living index, well below the national average
BestPlaces scores Shelbyville at 84.7 on its cost-of-living index -- 15.3% below the national average, though 5.8% above the Tennessee state average (retrieved 2026-08-22).
Rent runs modestly below the national average
One rent aggregator cited a May 2026 median rent of $1,725 across all bedroom counts and property types -- about 12% ($225) below the national average.
Real economic strain alongside the growth and low costs
Median household income is cited at $55,073, below both the Tennessee and national medians, with a 20.69% poverty rate (Neilsberg ACS-based aggregation, retrieved 2026-08-22) -- a real, disclosed indicator that Shelbyville's growth and low costs coexist with genuine economic strain for a meaningful share of residents, not smoothed over in favor of the more positive growth/investment narrative.
Key takeaways
- Shelbyville's BestPlaces cost-of-living index is 84.7 -- 15.3% below the national average, though 5.8% above the Tennessee state average.
- Median rent was cited at $1,725/month as of May 2026, about 12% below the national average.
- Median household income ($55,073) sits below state and national medians, with a real, disclosed 20.69% poverty rate -- genuine economic strain alongside the city's growth and investment.
- The real, recent manufacturing/logistics investment (RISU AMERICA, Newell Brands) may improve this income picture going forward, but that is a forward-looking expectation, not yet reflected in the cited income/poverty figures.
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