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Buying a home in Shelby, Nebraska

The typical owner-occupied home in Shelby is worth about $120,500, 49% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 64% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,659 a year in property taxes, about 1.38% of their home's value, lower than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $72,955 a year, so the median home costs 1.7 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 46% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Shelby at a glance

Shelby Nebraska U.S.
Median home value $120,500 $238,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,659 $3,549 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.38% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $72,955 $76,475 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 85% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 46% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,354 $1,736 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 13.8% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent – $1,072 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.5% 27.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1975 1980
Vacant homes 7.5% 7.6% 10.1%
Population 684 1,978,707 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Shelby

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Shelby home of $120,500 with 20% down costs about $837 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,038, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $35,883 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 14% of the median Shelby household income of $72,955; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $245,000.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$24,100
Loan amount$96,400
Principal and interest$648
Property taxes (1.38% a year)$139
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
PMI$0
Total per month$837

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,218
Loan amount$118,317
Principal and interest$796
Property taxes (1.38% a year)$139
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
FHA mortgage insurance$53
Total per month$1,038

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Questions about home buying in Shelby

What is the median home value in Shelby?

About $120,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Shelby?

Homeowners pay a median $1,659 a year, which is about 1.38% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Shelby?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $837 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $35,883 a year.

More about Shelby

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data