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Shell Lake, WI

City in Washburn County, Wisconsin.

Population

1,459

Land area

5.8sq mi

People per sq mi

250

ZIP codes

0

Shell Lake and its ZIP codes

Full map

Shell Lake at a glance

  • Shell Lake is about 2.3 times as dense as Wisconsin as a whole.
  • The median household income is $57,500, 26% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $229,400 (14% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $450 a month.

Local data for Shell Lake, WI

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Shell Lake, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$57,500

Poverty rate

8.9%

Median home value

$229,400

Median rent

$450/mo

Homeownership

77.6%

Bachelor's or higher

32.0%

Median age

49.8

Average commute

19.0 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (416), Norwegian Americans (148), Irish Americans (143).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Washburn County. PPP loans are for Shell Lake.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$46,789

5,459 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$60,638

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$163M

FY 2026, $9,791 per person

Washburn County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Shell Lake, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone69.5%
  • Carpooled13.6%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked1.8%
  • Bicycle1.7%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
  • Worked from home12.3%

Average one-way commute: 19.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Shell Lake, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: cold wave

Storm events since 1996

366

Countywide, mostly hail

Flood insurance policies

41

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

80° / 1°F

31.6 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Shell Lake, WI, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

33.7%

U.S. 33.3% about the same

Diabetes

14.1%

U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts

Smoking

13.9%

U.S. 12.8% +1.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.6%

U.S. 11.1% -3.5 pts

Cities near Shell Lake

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
SpoonerCity6.8 mi4
BarronettCensus-designated place7.9 mi0.8
HaugenVillage11 mi0.5
TregoCensus-designated place12 mi1.1
CumberlandCity15 mi4.2
BirchwoodVillage18 mi1.1
SpringbrookCensus-designated place18 mi0.7
Rice LakeCity18 mi9
Stone LakeCensus-designated place19 mi0.9
BarronCity23 mi2.9
AlmenaVillage23 mi1.1
SirenVillage23 mi1.4
CameronVillage24 mi2.6
LewisCensus-designated place24 mi1.5
WebsterVillage25 mi1.8
MinongVillage25 mi1.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Shell Lake, WI in?
Shell Lake is in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What is the population of Shell Lake, WI?
About 1,459 people live in Shell Lake, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Shell Lake?
Nearby places include Spooner (6.8 mi), Barronett (7.9 mi), Haugen (11 mi), Trego (12 mi), Cumberland (15 mi).

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