The Town FilesShell Rock, Iowa
City in Butler County · population 1,268 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,100
- Household income
- $78,657
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 35.6
Shell Rock is a city of 1,268 people in Butler County, Iowa. The median home is worth $163,100, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Iowa towns, better for families than 94% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 72% of Iowa towns.
How Shell Rock ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shell Rock is worth $163,100, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $78,657, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shell Rock | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $931 | $820 |
| Median household income | $78,657 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Shell Rock
| People | Shell Rock | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Shell Rock
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.5°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shell Rock since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 14, 2021 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 16, 2007.
Severe weather in Butler County since 1996
Butler County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Butler County
Butler County had 3,691 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,211 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Shell Rock itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Shell Rock
1 public school with 172 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Rock Elementary School | PK-4 | 172 | 12.3 |
Towns near Shell Rock
- Waverly, IA5.7 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Clarksville, IA6.4 mi · 1,264 people · home $125,900
- Janesville, IA7.6 mi · 1,034 people · home $221,700
- New Hartford, IA10.2 mi · 570 people · home $114,700
- Allison, IA11.2 mi · 966 people · home $111,500
- Denver, IA12.9 mi · 1,919 people · home $229,200
- Parkersburg, IA13.8 mi · 2,015 people · home $196,700
- Cedar Falls, IA14.8 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
Shell Rock questions
Is Shell Rock, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shell Rock scores better for retirees than 71% of Iowa towns and quieter than 59%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Shell Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Shell Rock is valued at $163,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,657, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Shell Rock?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.8 inches of snow.
Does Shell Rock get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shell Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 14, 2021. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)