The Town FilesShell Lake, Wisconsin
City in Washburn County · population 1,371 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,400
- Household income
- $57,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 49.8
Shell Lake is a city of 1,371 people in Washburn County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $229,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 87% of Wisconsin towns.
How Shell Lake ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shell Lake is worth $229,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $57,500, which is more affordable than 13% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $450 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shell Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $450 | $951 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.3% | — |
Who lives in Shell Lake
| People | Shell Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Shell Lake
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.9°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shell Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 2001 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Washburn County since 1996
Washburn County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washburn County
Washburn County had 5,523 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,282 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Shell Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Shell Lake
3 public schools with 618 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Lake Junior/Senior High | 7-12 | 317 | 15.1 |
| Shell Lake Elementary (3-6) | 3-6 | 173 | 11.5 |
| Shell Lake Primary (K-2) | PK-2 | 128 | 8.5 |
Towns near Shell Lake
- Bashaw, WI4.4 mi · 1,079 people · home $254,600
- Beaver Brook, WI4.5 mi · 795 people · home $231,100
- Spooner, WI7.0 mi · 2,477 people · home $165,500
- Madge, WI8.1 mi · 532 people · home $319,300
- Spooner, WI8.8 mi · 827 people · home $270,300
- Dewey, WI9.0 mi · 545 people · home $219,100
- Evergreen, WI9.1 mi · 1,191 people · home $190,700
- Long Lake, WI9.6 mi · 628 people · home $405,600
Shell Lake questions
Is Shell Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shell Lake scores better for retirees than 87% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 55%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Shell Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Shell Lake is valued at $229,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,500, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $450 a month.
What is the weather like in Shell Lake?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 0.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year and 55.7 inches of snow.
Does Shell Lake get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shell Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 2001. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)