RANK #885 / 996 · POP 926,440 · TN
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.4%
Shelby County, Tennessee, is perhaps best known as the home of Memphis, a city celebrated for its deep musical heritage and its position along the Mississippi River. The county, the largest in Tennessee by both land area and population, sits in the state's southwestern corner, bordering Arkansas and Mississippi. Commutes vary, with options including personal vehicles, public transportation via the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) bus and trolley lines, and rideshare programs. Beyond the urban landscape, outdoor recreation is available at expansive green spaces like Shelby Farms Park, one of the nation's largest urban parks, and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, which offers hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Life in Shelby County offers a mix of urban and suburban experiences, with notable towns such as Germantown, Collierville, and Bartlett providing distinct community feels. Public education is served by Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the largest district in Tennessee, alongside several independent municipal school districts. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture, particularly cotton, has diversified. It now leverages its strategic location as a logistics hub, supported by its airport, rail, road, and river infrastructure. Recent economic developments show investment in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, contributing to job growth and economic expansion.
Well below national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.8x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
xAI Data Center (Project Colossus)
xAI (Elon Musk)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
MLGW Solar and Battery Storage Project
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW)
|
$180M | Planned |
|
WR Graceland Solar Farm
RWE Renewables
|
$140M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (Frayser)
Amazon
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Shelby County East Data Center
Nickson General Contractors
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Shelby County has a Boom Town Index score of 11/100, ranking #885 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.9% and a median household income of $59,621, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Shelby County is $206,100 with median rent at $1,103/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2893, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.9%. Home values changed -1.7% in the past 12 months.