Shell Rock is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,268 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is located along the county's eastern border, between Butler and Bremer counties. A post office opened in Shell Rock in 1855.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code50670

Area code319

Living in Shell Rock

Housing in Shell Rock

$230K▲ 2.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Shell Rock home is worth about $230,000, up 2.7% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Shell Rock

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Shell Rock for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Waterloo (24%), Waverly (16%) and Cedar Falls (15%). Half commute less than 17 miles.

Waterloo

24%

Waverly

16%

Cedar Falls

15%

Cedar Rapids

4%Work in townlive and work in Shell Rock 17 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 310Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Shell Rock →

Health in Shell Rock

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 43% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

1better than IA·6worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81%More adults treating high blood pressureIA 77.8% · better 11.1%More adults who have had cancerIA 8.7% · worse

Care nearby

Waverly Health CenterWaverly · 5.2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Peoples Clinic Butler CountyClarksville · 6.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Shell Rock · CMS · HRSAHealth in Shell Rock →

Natural hazards in Shell Rock

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 83% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

20Does Shell Rock flood?paid flood claims since 1993 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Shell Rock

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Shell Rock →

Climate in Shell Rock

Full climate →

Shell Rock has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

29° / 13°Winter

58° / 36°Spring

81° / 60°Summer

60° / 39°Fall

How much snow does Shell Rock get?About 39 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 8, with the last in spring around Apr 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Shell Rock →

Schools in Shell Rock

All Shell Rock schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Shell Rock’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 83% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictWaverly-Shell Rock Comm School DistrictSchools1

Shell Rock Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 116 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.