Shell Lake is a city in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,371 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Washburn County.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code54871

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Shell Lake

Housing in Shell Lake

$321K▲ 5.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Shell Lake home is worth about $321,000, up 5.2% in a year, 6% below the Wisconsin typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Shell Lake

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Shell Lake for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Spooner (20%), Rice Lake (5%) and Eau Claire (3%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Spooner

20%

Rice Lake

Eau Claire

Beaver Brook

14%Work in townlive and work in Shell Lake 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 740Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Shell Lake →

Health in Shell Lake

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 48% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 77% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Wisconsin

4better than WI·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityWI 9.7% · better 83.6%More adults treating high blood pressureWI 77.8% · better 9.8%More adults with heart diseaseWI 6.6% · worse

Care nearby

Indianhead Medical CtrShell Lake · 1.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Cumberland Elementary SchoolCumberland · 14.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Shell Lake

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 12% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

12Does Shell Lake flood?paid flood claims since 2002 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Shell Lake MapShell Lake vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Shell Lake

Full climate →

Shell Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 56 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

24° / 6°Winter

53° / 30°Spring

78° / 55°Summer

54° / 35°Fall

How much snow does Shell Lake get?About 56 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 28, with the last in spring around May 14.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Shell Lake

All Shell Lake schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Shell Lake’s kids attend trail 55% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictShell Lake School DistrictSchools3

Shell Lake Elementary (3-6) B+Elementary · Grades 3–6 · 153 students Shell Lake Primary (K-2)Elementary · Grades PK–2 · 131 students Shell Lake Junior/Senior High CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 300 students

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