Shell Knob is a small town of 1,415 in Missouri, with a median household income of $49,853
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shell Knob stands out for solid school ratings (A).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Shell Knob is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shell Knob 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: 97.2
Shell Knob's overall cost of living index is 97.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shell Knob costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shell Knob, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$296,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,056
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
92.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,853
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shell Knob's violent crime rate is 120.1 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
120.1 /100k
Property Crime
944.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shell Knob is served primarily by SHELL KNOB 78.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shell Knob, MO
National Avg
School District
SHELL KNOB 78
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shell Knob sees average highs of 45.0°F in January
and 89.3°F in July,
with 45.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.9 inches of snow per year.
Shell Knob's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shell Knob roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $296,900 and median rent is $1,056/month.
Shell Knob's violent crime rate is 120.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 944.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shell Knob are operated by SHELL KNOB 78.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1. 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shell Knob, MO has a population of 1,415, a median household income of $49,853, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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 Knob averages 45.0°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.8 inches
with about 6.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shell Knob, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65747.
The population of Shell Knob, Missouri is 1,415 with a median age of 64.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shell Knob: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $296,900, median household income $49,853, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shell Knob side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.