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Shelby, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Cleveland County County
3.1
/5.0
B
Good
21,868
Population
978/sq mi density
$50,705
Median Income
$30,663 per capita
$185,400
Home Value
$209,740 Zillow
$899
Median Rent
28.8% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
301 sunny days/yr
718
Violent Crime/100K
3,522 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.5 / 5.0
$50,705 median income, 2.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$185,400 home value, $899/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
718 violent crimes/100K (89% above avg)
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Shelby enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 50.4 inches. The area receives 4.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 59.2°F |
| 10% above US avg | |
| January Average | 40°F (4°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 301 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) |
| Area | 22.4 sq mi (57.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 978/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.2904°N, 81.5456°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Cleveland County County |
| Nearest Airport | Hickory Regional (HKY) 32 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 70.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 44.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 33.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F (4°C) | 4.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 43°F (6°C) | 4.1 in | |
| March | 51°F (10°C) | 5.0 in | Wettest |
| April | 59°F (15°C) | 3.4 in | Driest |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 4.5 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 in | |
| September | 71°F (21°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 59°F (15°C) | 3.7 in | |
| November | 50°F (10°C) | 3.5 in | |
| December | 42°F (6°C) | 4.0 in |
Shelby has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.0") and April the driest (3.4").