Shell Valley is a small town of 1,183 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $42,029
and a 10.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 80 (US average = 100), which is
20% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shell Valley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shell Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shell Valley 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: 79.9
Shell Valley's overall cost of living index is 79.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shell Valley costs roughly 20% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shell Valley, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$59,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$348
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,029
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shell Valley's violent crime rate is 49.4 per 100,000 residents
— 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
49.4 /100k
Property Crime
246.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shell Valley is served primarily by BELCOURT 7.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shell Valley, ND
National Avg
School District
BELCOURT 7
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
7.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
71.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shell Valley sees average highs of 17.9°F in January
and 79.1°F in July,
with 20.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.6 inches of snow per year.
Shell Valley's cost of living index is 80, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shell Valley roughly 20% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $59,200 and median rent is $348/month.
Shell Valley's violent crime rate is 49.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 246.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shell Valley are operated by BELCOURT 7.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.8:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shell Valley, ND has a population of 1,183, a median household income of $42,029, and an unemployment rate of 10.0%.
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 Valley averages 17.9°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.1 inches
with about 37.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shell Valley, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58316.
The population of Shell Valley, North Dakota is 1,183 with a median age of 29.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shell Valley: cost of living index 80 (100 = US average), median home $59,200, median household income $42,029, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shell Valley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
