Population 2,458 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shellsburg
Household size in Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Shellsburg sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Iowa overall, where it has 2.43 people.
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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Shellsburg is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1.
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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.0% of households in Shellsburg, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Shellsburg
Renters in Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 14.2% of households in Shellsburg rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over four in ten owners (42.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Shellsburg: 14.1% 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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Shellsburg are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S.
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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $717 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $741 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $743 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $817 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$100 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Shellsburg pays $817 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 19.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Shellsburg
Bachelor's degrees in Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.8% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Shellsburg: 23.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well 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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.0% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.1% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Shellsburg: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Shellsburg
| Period | Shellsburg | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Shellsburg has been strong: just 0.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Shellsburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shellsburg | 2.61 | 43.9 | 3.0% | 14.2% | 14.1% | 1984 | $817 | 23.8% | 95.0% | 0.8% |
| Palo | 2.78 | 39.1 | 13.5% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 2003 | $768 | 25.6% | 95.2% | 1.7% |
| Center Point | 2.53 | 41.6 | 6.4% | 17.5% | 3.9% | 1984 | $924 | 30.7% | 95.4% | 0.9% |
| Toddville | 2.75 | 46.2 | 7.1% | 7.1% | 10.2% | 1980 | $1,202 | 34.2% | 97.3% | 2.1% |
| Urbana | 2.79 | 39.5 | 10.3% | 9.5% | 4.0% | 1993 | $864 | 28.8% | 97.9% | 1.7% |
| Vinton | 2.18 | 45.7 | 16.4% | 18.7% | 10.2% | 1952 | $875 | 27.6% | 92.4% | 2.0% |
| Atkins | 2.85 | 40.8 | 3.9% | 7.6% | 2.2% | 1997 | $625 | 30.8% | 97.8% | 2.1% |
| Newhall | 2.56 | 38.0 | 8.1% | 13.3% | 8.4% | 1968 | $711 | 22.5% | 97.3% | 2.2% |
| Lafayette | 2.34 | 46.1 | 10.0% | 14.5% | 4.2% | 1966 | $755 | 28.1% | 96.6% | 0.5% |
| Hiawatha | 2.58 | 34.8 | 19.9% | 35.3% | 7.2% | 1986 | $955 | 29.9% | 94.1% | 4.1% |
| Robins | 2.79 | 46.0 | 11.9% | 5.8% | 1.1% | 2002 | $1,086 | 55.8% | 98.7% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Silver Lake, WI · Hamden, OH · Harleton, TX · Hawi, HI · Hayden, CO · Hersey, MI · Honeoye, NY · Adolphus, KY · Kemmerer, WY · Lexington, MN
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 Shellsburg. 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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