The Town FilesShellsburg, Iowa
City in Benton County · population 961 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,800
- Household income
- $70,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 40.4
Shellsburg is a city of 961 people in Benton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $175,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 83% of Iowa towns, quieter than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Shellsburg 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 Shellsburg is worth $175,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $70,179, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $967 a month. 87.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shellsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $967 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,179 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shellsburg
| People | Shellsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 13.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Shellsburg
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shellsburg since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 6.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 8, 1988.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 6,069 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,216 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Shellsburg itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Shellsburg
1 public school with 250 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shellsburg Elementary School | PK-5 | 250 | 11.9 |
Towns near Shellsburg
- Palo, IA4.2 mi · 1,407 people · home $282,400
- Atkins, IA6.8 mi · 2,056 people · home $314,900
- Center Point, IA7.8 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Newhall, IA8.5 mi · 876 people · home $186,300
- Vinton, IA9.3 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
- Urbana, IA9.5 mi · 1,554 people · home $228,900
- Hiawatha, IA9.7 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Robins, IA10.2 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
Shellsburg questions
Is Shellsburg, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shellsburg scores better for retirees than 64% of Iowa towns and quieter than 76%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Shellsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Shellsburg is valued at $175,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,179, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $967 a month.
What is the weather like in Shellsburg?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Shellsburg get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shellsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1954. 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)