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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Shelby County

Iowa · 12,167 residents · 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 $44,085. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $103,100. With a median age of 45.4, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 45.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,167
−8%since 2000
from 13,173 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 22 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
45.4
+12%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K12K13K13K1990201020202024Shelby County
202412K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,085
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,442 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,389
+32%since 2000
from $16,969 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
22.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
10.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.399
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information13.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade8.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction7.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing6.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food3.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$103,100
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$582
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
43.6%
−33.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
22.4% rent
Vacancy rate
8.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.3
+14%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score2.6%(342)
2010
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(11,763)
Black0.3%(31)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(219)
Asian0.4%(46)
Other0.4%(49)
Diversity Score7%(850)
Diversity Score
7
+169%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
90.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+18%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
30.6%
−32.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.5%
−37.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Shelby County

Marshall County
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+32%
Home value$121,900+18%
Population5,509−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income$67,027+52%
Home value$153,700+49%
Population16,237+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Pottawattamie County
Income$73,602+67%
Home value$195,700+90%
Population92,996+696%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income$79,535+80%
Home value$176,000+71%
Population14,623+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Shelby County, Iowa?

Shelby County, Iowa has about 12,167 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Shelby County, Iowa earns about $44,085 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 $103,100, and the typical rent is about $582 a month.

How educated are people in Shelby County, Iowa?

About 16.1% 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 10.0% 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 1,063 residents, a change of about -8 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 →