2016 · Bar in shellsbug Iowa · Wikimedia Commons
Shellsburg’s story
172 years in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1854Shellsburg is settled
- 2004IAMap-doton-Shellsburg
- 2016Bar in shellsbug Iowa
ShellsburgIA
A town of 868, settled in 1854. A typical home worth about $345K.
Population
868
−2.2% since 2010
Typical home
$345K
+10.2% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
40.4
years
Jobs based here
111
A commuter town
What makes Shellsburg stand out
The 2 things Shellsburg does most differently from other towns.
Small town
868 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Shellsburg’s report card
Now in Shellsburg
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Shellsburg? Is a B for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Shellsburg’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Shellsburg. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Shellsburg home is worth about $345K
The typical Shellsburg home is worth about $345,000, up 10.2% in a year, 44% above the Iowa typical home.
$345KZillow home value
Typical home value
Shellsburg$345K
Iowa$240K
+10.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Shellsburg
Most working residents leave Shellsburg for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Cedar Rapids (40%), Vinton (6%) and Hiawatha (4%). Half commute less than 14 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Shellsburg2%
Cedar Rapids40%
Vinton6%
Hiawatha4%
Waterloo4%
14 mi
median commute distance
111
jobs based in Shellsburg
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Shellsburg has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–31°
Spring37–59°
Summer61–82°
Fall40–61°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Shellsburg is
Shellsburg tracks Iowa closely on all 32 CDC measures.
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Virginia Gay Hospital
9.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Shellsburg’s public schools outperform 58% of Iowa districts
The public schools Shellsburg’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 58% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shellsburg Elementary School | PK–5 | 269 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windDrought
4
paid flood claims since 2009
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
0% of Shellsburg is conserved land
1.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 523 acres
1.8 mi
of trails · 2.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prairie Forest | — | 13 |
| 2. Shellsburg Memorial Park | 0.2 mi | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Shellsburg for work
Where Shellsburg’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
111jobs based in Shellsburg
2%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Shellsburg
City in Iowa, United States
Shellsburg is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 961 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1854
- Population
- 961
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 791 ft
- ZIP code
- 52332