District 2
RANK #616 / 996 NAT · #17 / 33 TN · POP 926,440
1YR FORECAST: -0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
At 38/100, Shelby County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $59,621 combined with job growth of -0.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Shelby County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $206,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,103/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Shelby County are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted -1.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 0.98% of Shelby County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.