Shelby, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Pottawattamie County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
797 Population 385/sq mi density
$60,333 Median Income $37,037 per capita
$156,300 Home Value $239,098 Zillow
$872 Median Rent 31.9% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$60,333 median income, 4.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$156,300 home value, $872/mo rent
D
Education
2.0 / 5.0
12.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Shelby, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$60,333
20% below
$37,037 per capita
Home Value
$156,300
45% below
Zillow: $239,098
Median Rent
$872/mo
25% below
31.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
12.4%
63% below
90.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.4%
22% above
7.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.8%
21% above
16.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F

How Shelby Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Shelby's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
80%
Home Value
55%
Rent
75%
Poverty
64%
Bachelor's
37%
Unemployment
122%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Shelby a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Shelby residents earn a median household income of $60,333 , which is 20% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $37,037. The unemployment rate stands at 4.4% (22% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,746 business establishments, including 209 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Shelby is $156,300 , 45% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $239,098. Median rent is $872/month, with 31.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.

Education

12.4% of adults in Shelby hold a bachelor's degree or higher (63% below the national average). 90.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Shelby has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.3 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population797
Median Age34.4 yrs
Density385/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born1.4%
Veterans5.2%

Economy

B+
Median Income$60,333
Per Capita$37,037
Unemployment4.4%
Poverty7.9%
County GDP$6,263M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,085

Housing

A+
Home Value$156,300
Rent$872
Ownership64.6%
Zillow$239,098
Housing Units392
Rent Burden31.9%

Health

Obesity38.8%
Diabetes9.5%
Smoking16.5%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death9,293/100K

Climate

Avg Temp50°F
Rain34.3 in/yr
Elevation1,346 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+12.4%
High School+90.3%
Graduate+3.5%
School Score6.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 59% / D 39%
Commute31 min
Broadband86.4%
Internet Speed88 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries5

Did You Know?

The median home in Shelby was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Eppley Airfield (27 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.430 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.1% of the population has a disability.
There are 209 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.