With 1,243 people, Shell Valley is a city in North Dakota. This skews young, with a median age of 27.0. The population has roughly tripled since 2000, adding 848 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. The typical home is worth $90,800, having more than tripled since 2000. Households here earn about 39% less than in North Dakota as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $46,786, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 27.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 398%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Shell Valley
What changed most since 1990
Population311 → 1,243(+300%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants11.1% → 59.9%(+48.8 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Poverty rate46.6% → 21.5%(−25.1 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Its weight in Rolette County
Shell Valley's population equals 10% of Rolette County's. Its number of residents 65 and older equals 5.0% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)39.5%(17)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.2%(13)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 43 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Shell Valley, decade by decade
Shell Valley population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
311
$24,001
–
6.4%
7.8
2000
395
$24,722
$18,215
8.7%
11.0
2010
1,197
$34,885
$61,859
8.8%
9.4
2020
1,146
$47,370
$71,995
15.9%
20.9
2024
1,243
$46,786
$90,800
18.7%
19.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
