Shelby is a small town of 698 in Iowa, with a median household income of $52,857
and a 5.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shelby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shelby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shelby city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.5
Shelby's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shelby costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shelby, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$123,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$860
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,857
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Shelby's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents
— 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
395.9 /100k
Property Crime
2012.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Shelby, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shelby sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 85.9°F in July,
with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Shelby's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shelby roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $123,800 and median rent is $860/month.
Shelby's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2012.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Shelby, IA has a population of 698, a median household income of $52,857, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Shelby averages 30.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches
with about 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shelby, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51570.
The population of Shelby, Iowa is 698 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shelby: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $123,800, median household income $52,857, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shelby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
