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Shell Rock, IA
City in Butler County, Iowa.
Population
1,625
Land area
1.6sq mi
People per sq mi
1,015
ZIP codes
0
Shell Rock and its ZIP codes
Shell Rock at a glance
- Shell Rock is about 18 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 202nd most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $78,657 a year, 5% more than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $163,100 (22% below Iowa) and median rent is $931 a month.
Local data for Shell Rock, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Shell Rock, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$78,657
Poverty rate
5.0%
Median home value
$163,100
Median rent
$931/mo
Homeownership
84.9%
Bachelor's or higher
20.3%
Median age
35.6
Average commute
25.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (565), Irish Americans (245), French Americans (73).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Butler County. PPP loans are for Shell Rock.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, +0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,901
3,676 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$61,312
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$120M
FY 2026, $8,355 per person
How people get to work
Shell Rock, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone84.7%
- Carpooled8.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.1%
- Worked from home5.5%
Average one-way commute: 25.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Shell Rock, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
683
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
113
1.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 8°F
35.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Shell Rock, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.0%
U.S. 33.3% +5.7 pts
Diabetes
12.8%
U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.9%
U.S. 11.1% -4.2 pts
Cities near Shell Rock
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WaverlyCity | 5.7 mi | 11.3 |
| ClarksvilleCity | 6.3 mi | 1.3 |
| JanesvilleCity | 7.5 mi | 1.4 |
| PlainfieldCity | 9.4 mi | 0.3 |
| New HartfordCity | 9.9 mi | 0.6 |
| AllisonCity | 11 mi | 2.9 |
| DenverCity | 13 mi | 1.7 |
| ParkersburgCity | 14 mi | 1.4 |
| StoutCity | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| Cedar FallsCity | 15 mi | 29.4 |
| NashuaCity | 17 mi | 2.9 |
| BristowCity | 17 mi | 0.9 |
| GreeneCity | 17 mi | 1.1 |
| DikeCity | 17 mi | 1.4 |
| TripoliCity | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| AplingtonCity | 18 mi | 0.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Shell Rock, IA in?
- Shell Rock is in Butler County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Shell Rock, IA?
- About 1,625 people live in Shell Rock, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Shell Rock?
- Nearby places include Waverly (5.7 mi), Clarksville (6.3 mi), Janesville (7.5 mi), Plainfield (9.4 mi), New Hartford (9.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023