Shelby County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Shelby County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Shelby County, Iowa has a population of 11,778, the 65th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $72,738 and the median home value is $164,000. The poverty rate is 7.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Shelby County Quick Facts

Population 11,778

Median Household Income $72,738

Median Home Value $164,000

Poverty Rate 7.6%

Unemployment Rate 3.2%

Median Age 44.3 years

Homeownership Rate 77.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.1%

High School Graduation 95.3%

Cities/Places 11

Population 11,778 65th of 99

Median Income $72,738 3% lower than state

Poverty Rate 7.6%

Unemployment 3.2%

How Shelby County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	11,757	11,778	+0.2%
Median household income	$67,690	$72,738	+7.5%
Median home value	$156,200	$164,000	+5.0%

Median Household Income

Shelby

$72,738

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Shelby

$164,000

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.7%

$25K-$50K 20.0%

$50K-$100K 28.8%

$100K+ 36.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.3%

$10K-$15K

3.8%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

5.2%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

4.7%

$40K-$45K

5.2%

$45K-$50K

2.5%

$50K-$60K

8.3%

$60K-$75K

8.2%

$75K-$100K

12.3%

$100K-$125K

11.2%

$125K-$150K

7.3%

$150K-$200K

7.9%

$200K+

10.2%

Employment

3.2% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

62.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.8%

Renter 22.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $783/mo 12.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.9%

18-34

17.2%

35-54

21.8%

55-74

27.3%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Shelby County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Harlan	4,891	$57,488	9.0%	$152,500
Shelby	752	$63,654	10.2%	$162,500
Elk Horn	728	$64,250	12.0%	$133,200
Earling	478	$43,750	9.3%	$125,000
Irwin	352	$40,417	15.5%	$72,900
Defiance	251	$53,542	11.6%	$101,600
Panama	245	$63,125	7.4%	$142,200
Portsmouth	204	$80,781	4.9%	$125,000
Westphalia	117	$77,083	3.4%	$97,400
Tennant	84	$62,885	0.0%	$210,000
Kirkman	58	$77,917	10.3%	$118,800

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Shelby County is located in Iowa with a total population of 11,778. It is the 65th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shelby County is 44.3 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,738. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $164,000. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Shelby County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shelby County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

24.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Shelby County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Shelby County, Iowa?

Shelby County has a population of 11,778, making it the 65th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Shelby County?

The median household income in Shelby County is $72,738 with a poverty rate of 7.6%.

How many cities are in Shelby County, Iowa?

Shelby County contains 11 Census-designated places.