What are the schools like in Shelton, NE?

Shelton is served primarily by SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in Shelton?

The median household income in Shelton, NE is $67,143 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Shelton, NE?

Shelton has an average high temperature of 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.8 inches.

Shelton, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Shelton, NE affordable or expensive?

Shelton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shelton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $132,900 and the median rent is $848 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Shelton, NE?

Shelton has a violent crime rate of 259.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1363.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shelton, NE a Good Place to Live?

Shelton is a small town of 1,333 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $67,143 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Shelton 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 Shelton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Shelton 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: 90.3

Shelton's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shelton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Shelton, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$132,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$848	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,143	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Shelton's violent crime rate is 259.8 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

259.8 /100k

Property Crime

1363.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Shelton is served primarily by SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shelton, NE	National Avg
School District	SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shelton sees average highs of 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 27.5 inches of annual precipitation and 21.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shelton, NE
Average High — January	35.9°F
Average High — July	86.6°F
Annual Precipitation	27.5"
Annual Snowfall	21.8"

Demographics

Metric	Shelton, NE	National Avg
Population	1,333	—
Median Age	34.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	13.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gibbon, NE 6 mi Wood River, NE 7 mi Prosser, NE 10 mi Kenesaw, NE 12 mi Heartwell, NE 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Shelton

Shelton, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68876

Shelton vs Other Cities

Shelton, NE vs Gibbon, NE Shelton, NE vs Wood River, NE Shelton, NE vs Prosser, NE Shelton, NE vs Kenesaw, NE Shelton, NE vs Heartwell, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shelton, NE affordable or expensive?

Shelton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shelton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $132,900 and median rent is $848/month.

What is the crime rate in Shelton, NE?

Shelton's violent crime rate is 259.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1363.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Shelton?

Public schools in Shelton are operated by SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shelton, NE a good place to live?

Shelton, NE has a population of 1,333, a median household income of $67,143, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Shelton?

Shelton averages 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.5 inches with about 21.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shelton?

Shelton, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68876.

What is the population of Shelton?

The population of Shelton, Nebraska is 1,333 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shelton?

Key numbers for living in Shelton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $132,900, median household income $67,143, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shelton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.