United States › Iowa › Shelby County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Shelby County Iowa · 11,746 residents · 591 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 11,746 people, Shelby County is a county in Iowa. At a median age of 46.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $120,700. 2% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 46.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 12K 12K 13K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Shelby County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $60,139
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,442 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,969 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 9.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 6.7%
Public administration 5.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Education & health services 1%
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$120,700
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$701
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 77.0% in 2000
22.8% rent
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.2%(12,938)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(88)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 92.7%(10,890)
Hispanic / Latino 3.5%(412)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 65.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 25.1%(1,178)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 10.2%(85)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.7%(114)
Share of the 835 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Shelby County Head to head
Compare Shelby County to nearby counties SHELBY COUNTY VS
Audubon County
Income $58,229 −3%
Home value $121,900 +1%
Population 5,509 −53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income $67,027 +11%
Home value $153,700 +27%
Population 16,237 +39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Pottawattamie County
Income $73,602 +22%
Home value $195,700 +62%
Population 92,996 +696%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHELBY COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income $79,535 +32%
Home value $176,000 +46%
Population 14,623 +25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Shelby County, Iowa? Shelby County, Iowa has about 11,746 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Shelby County, Iowa? The typical household in Shelby County, Iowa earns about $60,139 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 $120,700, and the typical rent is about $701 a month.
How educated are people in Shelby County, Iowa? About 21.1% 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 8.9% 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 1,484 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.
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