Shell Rock is a small town of 1,542 in Iowa, with a median household income of $68,125
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shell Rock stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Shell Rock is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shell Rock 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: 88.7
Shell Rock's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shell Rock costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shell Rock, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$159,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$617
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shell Rock's violent crime rate is 20.8 per 100,000 residents
— 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
20.8 /100k
Property Crime
103.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shell Rock is served primarily by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shell Rock, IA
National Avg
School District
Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shell Rock sees average highs of 25.0°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 35.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.1 inches of snow per year.
Shell Rock's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shell Rock roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $159,100 and median rent is $617/month.
Shell Rock's violent crime rate is 20.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 103.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shell Rock are operated by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shell Rock, IA has a population of 1,542, a median household income of $68,125, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Shell Rock averages 25.0°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.4 inches
with about 39.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shell Rock, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50670.
The population of Shell Rock, Iowa is 1,542 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shell Rock: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $159,100, median household income $68,125, crime index 5 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shell Rock side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
