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CITY

Shelby

Iowa · 727 residents (2025 est.) · 2.065 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,654. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $162,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
752
+8%since 2000
from 696 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
364 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 337 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.1
−3%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:727 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5566226887538191990201020202024Shelby
2024752
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,654
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,393
+147%since 2000
from $14,720 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.0%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.412
+8%since 2010
from 0.382 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade16.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$162,500
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$840
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $321 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.8%
−16.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.1% in 2000
37.2% rent
Vacancy rate
13.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
7.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
67.2%
+47.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+11%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(682)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1%(7)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.5%(17)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.3%(634)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino12.9%(97)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(21)
Diversity Score34%(255)
Diversity Score
34
+1251%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 90.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+37%since 2000
from 21.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.6%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2011
from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2011
from 62.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.1%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.6%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
−11.1 ptssince 2012
from 24.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−81.7 ptssince 2013
from 84.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+16.3 ptssince 2017
from 68.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.1%
−6.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.2%
+6.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Shelby to nearby cities

SHELBY VS
Council Bluffs
Income$64,578+1%
Home value$171,800+6%
Population62,680+8522%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Bellevue
Income$85,462+34%
Home value$247,000+52%
Population64,863+8822%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Omaha
Income$73,201+15%
Home value$245,500+51%
Population488,797+67135%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY VS
Denison
Income$65,684+3%
Home value$150,200−8%
Population8,214+1030%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby, Iowa?

Shelby, Iowa has about 752 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelby, Iowa?

The typical household in Shelby, Iowa earns about $63,654 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby, Iowa expensive?

In Shelby, Iowa, the median home is worth about $162,500, and the typical rent is about $840 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby, Iowa?

About 10.7% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby, Iowa?

About 10.2% of people in Shelby, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 92 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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