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CITY

Shellsburg

Iowa · 997 residents (2025 est.) · 0.79 sq mi
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The short version

Shellsburg has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,179. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 13% 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 $175,800. Poverty is rare here, at 2.7% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% 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
868
−7%since 2000
from 938 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,099 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 1,187 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+11%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:997 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7138309481K1K1990201020202024Shellsburg
2024868
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,179
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,912 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,557
+99%since 2000
from $17,352 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.2%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.7%
−5.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.371
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.371 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade24.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing4.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,800
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$967
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $482 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 82.0% in 2000
12.7% rent
Vacancy rate
22.7%
+20.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
22.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+15%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shellsburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(925)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(4)
Asian0.3%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.9%(18)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.2%(809)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(28)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.6%(31)
Diversity Score16.1%(140)
Diversity Score
16
+764%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.0%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+66%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.0%
−15.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
22.9%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.6%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% 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
3.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−9.3 ptssince 2011
from 70.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.0%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
55.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
13.2%
−34.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−81.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.4%
+31.5 ptssince 2017
from 59.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 99.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Shellsburg to nearby cities

SHELLSBURG VS
Cedar Rapids
Income$70,424same
Home value$187,100+6%
Population137,935+13735%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELLSBURG VS
Marion
Income$86,743+24%
Home value$241,700+37%
Population42,732+4186%
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SHELLSBURG VS
North Liberty
Income$102,102+45%
Home value$303,800+73%
Population21,976+2104%
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SHELLSBURG VS
Coralville
Income$69,144−1%
Home value$298,500+70%
Population23,960+2303%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shellsburg, Iowa?

Shellsburg, Iowa has about 868 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shellsburg, Iowa?

The typical household in Shellsburg, Iowa earns about $70,179 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shellsburg, Iowa expensive?

In Shellsburg, Iowa, the median home is worth about $175,800, and the typical rent is about $967 a month.

How educated are people in Shellsburg, Iowa?

About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Shellsburg, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shellsburg, Iowa?

About 2.7% of people in Shellsburg, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shellsburg, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Shellsburg, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 97 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

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

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