Population 2,989 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shell Lake
Household size in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Shell Lake run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin. Household size has climbed from 2.31 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.3 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Shell Lake skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.1% of households in Shell Lake, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Shell Lake
Renters in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Shell Lake is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 48.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.6% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Shell Lake: 27.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Shell Lake are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Wisconsin overall, where the median home dates to 1974.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $563 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $634 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $704 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $751 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$188 | +$380 | +$606 |
The median renter in Shell Lake pays $751 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 25.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Shell Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Shell Lake (26.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Shell Lake is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Shell Lake
| Period | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Shell Lake has been strong: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Shell Lake compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Lake | 2.41 | 46.3 | 7.1% | 14.8% | 27.0% | 1979 | $751 | 26.7% | 93.5% | 3.3% |
| Spooner | 2.13 | 50.4 | 8.8% | 27.5% | 23.5% | 1976 | $838 | 26.4% | 92.8% | 5.1% |
| Barronett | 2.30 | 53.2 | 6.9% | 6.9% | 36.4% | 1985 | $785 | 28.1% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Hertel | 2.67 | 53.0 | 4.5% | 11.9% | 57.7% | 1984 | $530 | 26.9% | 93.2% | 3.8% |
| Sarona | 2.17 | 57.7 | 3.1% | 6.5% | 43.2% | 1987 | $1,034 | 31.6% | 97.5% | 3.2% |
| Indian Creek | 2.50 | 52.4 | 5.9% | 4.4% | 34.5% | 1981 | $888 | 28.7% | 96.2% | 2.3% |
| Haugen | 2.39 | 51.2 | 3.7% | 11.7% | 25.1% | 1983 | $904 | 20.9% | 95.2% | 2.9% |
| Cumberland | 2.29 | 46.8 | 10.4% | 21.1% | 22.4% | 1975 | $920 | 28.3% | 95.0% | 3.9% |
| Trego | 2.05 | 59.9 | 3.7% | 9.3% | 53.2% | 1988 | $772 | 23.6% | 96.4% | 2.2% |
| Coomer | 2.51 | 55.1 | 3.1% | 8.3% | 53.9% | 1983 | $1,327 | 26.9% | 95.3% | 4.6% |
| Springbrook | 2.39 | 53.0 | 6.9% | 9.4% | 31.8% | 1987 | $949 | 21.9% | 93.5% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Au Gres, MI · Rickman, TN · Lyons, MI · Mantorville, MN · Maypearl, TX · Munsey Park, NY · Patton, PA · Phillipsburg, KS · Pittsville, MD · Pleasantville, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Shell Lake. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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