Below Average CostVery SafeVinton-Shellsburg Comm School District
Median Income
$67,159
household / year
Median Home Value
$177,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$917
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Shellsburg, IA a Good Place to Live?
Shellsburg is a small town of 834 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,159
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shellsburg 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 Shellsburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shellsburg 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: 90.0
Shellsburg's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shellsburg costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shellsburg, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$177,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$917
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,159
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shellsburg's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.3 /100k
Property Crime
464.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shellsburg is served primarily by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shellsburg, IA
National Avg
School District
Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shellsburg sees average highs of 25.6°F in January
and 81.4°F in July,
with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.6 inches of snow per year.
Shellsburg's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shellsburg roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $177,500 and median rent is $917/month.
Shellsburg's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 464.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shellsburg are operated by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shellsburg, IA has a population of 834, a median household income of $67,159, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Shellsburg averages 25.6°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches
with about 33.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shellsburg, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52332.
The population of Shellsburg, Iowa is 834 with a median age of 48.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shellsburg: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $177,500, median household income $67,159, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shellsburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.