Population 34,873 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shelton
Household size in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.72 people per household, Shelton sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Washington overall, where it has 2.61 people. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the east.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.9 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Shelton is 41.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 42.1, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the north.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Shelton than nationally: 10.0%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Washington.
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 Shelton
Renters in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.9% of households in Shelton rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About a third of owners (34.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.0% of the housing in Shelton, 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. Vacancy has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
Shelton has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $757 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $873 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $985 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,318 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$562 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Shelton runs $1,318 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $562 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the center.
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 Shelton
Bachelor's degrees in Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Shelton have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.3 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.6% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.6% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.0% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Shelton never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Shelton has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Washington cities.
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 Shelton
| Period | Shelton | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Shelton is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.1 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Shelton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelton | 2.72 | 41.7 | 10.0% | 20.9% | 14.0% | 1988 | $1,318 | 18.7% | 87.0% | 5.1% |
| Kamilche | 2.65 | 44.5 | 4.9% | 12.1% | 9.8% | 1986 | $1,218 | 20.6% | 89.1% | 2.7% |
| Union | 2.34 | 60.3 | 7.9% | 18.1% | 18.4% | 1989 | $2,000 | 34.5% | 93.3% | 5.4% |
| Skokomish | 3.11 | 41.1 | 18.5% | 26.6% | 20.7% | 1985 | $1,000 | 13.9% | 82.7% | 14.4% |
| Grapeview | 2.43 | 51.3 | 6.7% | 10.5% | 29.1% | 1989 | $1,128 | 24.5% | 92.6% | 6.8% |
| Wauna | 1.74 | 66.6 | 8.5% | 4.8% | 29.6% | 1992 | $1,319 | 34.4% | 99.6% | 11.0% |
| Potlatch | 2.62 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 18.1% | 29.8% | 1992 | $751 | 16.0% | 84.5% | 5.0% |
| Forest Beach | 2.29 | 57.3 | 5.7% | 39.3% | 37.4% | 1979 | $1,887 | 51.8% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Hillgrove | 2.72 | 39.7 | 8.1% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 1990 | $1,294 | 21.6% | 91.2% | 6.8% |
| Lakebay | 2.21 | 48.7 | 6.1% | 11.7% | 21.3% | 1986 | $1,557 | 23.1% | 96.9% | 4.3% |
| Hoodsport | 1.92 | 55.6 | 9.7% | 10.8% | 46.9% | 1988 | $875 | 27.2% | 91.6% | 10.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sylvania, OH · Emeryville, CA · Fair Lawn, NJ · Fairbanks, AK · Farmington, MN · La Porte, TX · Lebanon, OH · Mattapan, MA · Pekin, IL · Seneca, SC
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 Shelton. 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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