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COUNTY

Shelby County

Iowa · 11,689 residents (2025 est.) · 590.776 sq mi
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The short version

Shelby County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,738. Population has declined 11% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $164,000. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% 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
11,778
−11%since 2000
from 13,173 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 21 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+9%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,689 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K12K13K13K1990201020202024Shelby County
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(655)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(697)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(787)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.5%(886)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(567)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.6%(1,132)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.6%(1,249)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.1%(1,313)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415%(1,768)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(1,449)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.8%(802)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4%(473)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,738
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,442 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,510
+139%since 2000
from $16,969 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.8%
+27.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+12%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction10.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$164,000
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$783
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
22.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
−1%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
64
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Shelby County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(12,938)
Black0.1%(13)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(88)
Asian0.3%(36)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(10,751)
Black0.3%(37)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(518)
Asian0.5%(56)
Other3.5%(416)
Diversity Score
20
+247%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
6
−67%since 2020
from 19 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.4%(396)
Puerto Rican0.6%(69)
Cuban0.2%(24)
Salvadoran0.1%(17)
Spaniard0.1%(11)
Asian origin
Korean0.5%(56)
Ancestry
German37.2%(4,382)
Irish10.3%(1,217)
Danish9.2%(1,082)
English6.3%(744)
American3.4%(397)
Norwegian2.5%(293)
Swedish2%(240)
Dutch1.7%(196)
French1.6%(186)
Italian1.1%(135)
Scottish1.1%(131)
Czech0.8%(100)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.7%(80)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(63)
Lithuanian0.3%(41)
Serbian0.3%(37)
Welsh0.3%(33)
British0.2%(26)
Russian0.1%(15)
Hungarian0.1%(12)
Swiss0.1%(12)
Greek0.1%(9)
Arab0%(3)
Syrian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Danish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.1%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.3%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.5 min
+24%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% 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
3.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 65.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.9%
−24.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.3%
−90.0 ptssince 2013
from 92.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+13.9 ptssince 2017
from 74.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.1%(1,178)
Married62.2%(2,919)
Widowed5.8%(273)
Divorced6.9%(326)
Women 15+
Never married20%(988)
Married58.6%(2,896)
Widowed11.9%(589)
Divorced9.5%(470)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

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Pop 11,473
Moffat County
Pop 13,122
Cumberland County
Pop 10,208
Valley County
Pop 12,831
Places similar to Shelby County
Head to head

Compare Shelby County to nearby counties

SHELBY COUNTY VS
Audubon County
Income$58,229−20%
Home value$121,900−26%
Population5,509−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income$67,027−8%
Home value$153,700−6%
Population16,237+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Pottawattamie County
Income$73,602+1%
Home value$195,700+19%
Population92,996+696%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income$79,535+9%
Home value$176,000+7%
Population14,623+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Iowa?

Shelby County, Iowa has about 11,778 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Shelby County, Iowa?

The typical household in Shelby County, Iowa earns about $72,738 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Shelby County, Iowa expensive?

In Shelby County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $164,000, and the typical rent is about $783 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Iowa?

About 24.1% of adults age 25 and over in Shelby County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Shelby County, Iowa?

About 7.6% of people in Shelby County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Shelby County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Shelby County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,452 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9604
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 51537ZIP 51570ZIP 51531ZIP 51530ZIP 51565ZIP 51562ZIP 51446ZIP 51527ZIP 51578ZIP 51447
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →