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Shellsburg, IA

City in Benton County, Iowa.

Population

868

Land area

0.8sq mi

People per sq mi

1,092

ZIP codes

0

Shellsburg and its ZIP codes

Full map

Shellsburg at a glance

  • Shellsburg is about 19 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $70,179 a year, 7% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $175,800 (15% below Iowa) and median rent is $967 a month.

Local data for Shellsburg, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Shellsburg, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$70,179

Poverty rate

2.7%

Median home value

$175,800

Median rent

$967/mo

Homeownership

87.3%

Bachelor's or higher

12.6%

Median age

40.4

Average commute

25.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (306), Irish Americans (140), Norwegian Americans (34).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Benton County. PPP loans are for Shellsburg.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$52,040

6,040 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$66,113

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$181M

FY 2026, $7,095 per person

Benton County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Shellsburg, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone66.0%
  • Carpooled22.9%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.5%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home10.6%

Average one-way commute: 25.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Shellsburg, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: drought

Storm events since 1996

889

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

70

0.6% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

81° / 8°F

37.9 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Shellsburg, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

41.8%

U.S. 33.3% +8.5 pts

Diabetes

11.1%

U.S. 12.1% -1.0 pts

Smoking

15.7%

U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

6.0%

U.S. 11.1% -5.1 pts

Cities near Shellsburg

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
PaloCity3.9 mi1.2
AtkinsCity6.9 mi1.1
Center PointCity7.8 mi2.7
HiawathaCity8.5 mi4.8
NewhallCity8.5 mi0.3
VintonCity9.4 mi4.9
RobinsCity9.4 mi6
UrbanaCity9.8 mi1.8
FairfaxCity12 mi3.6
Van HorneCity13 mi0.9
Cedar RapidsCity13 mi74.6
NorwayCity13 mi0.4
AlburnettCity13 mi0.8
WalkerCity14 mi0.7
GarrisonCity15 mi0.3
WalfordCity15 mi1

Frequently asked questions

What county is Shellsburg, IA in?
Shellsburg is in Benton County, Iowa.
What is the population of Shellsburg, IA?
About 868 people live in Shellsburg, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Shellsburg?
Nearby places include Palo (3.9 mi), Atkins (6.9 mi), Center Point (7.8 mi), Hiawatha (8.5 mi), Newhall (8.5 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023