Shelly city, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
As of 2026, Shelly city, Minnesota has a total population of 195, the 692nd largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $51,250, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.3%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 41% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x.
- Unemployment rate of 14.6% is notably above the national average.
Shelly city Quick Facts
How Shelly city Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 60
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Shelly city Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Norman County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Canada city | 10,546 | $71,370 | 10.1% | $302,600 |
| Twin Valley city | 725 | $59,250 | 10.8% | $85,000 |
| Halstad city | 589 | $67,857 | 2.5% | $114,800 |
| Gary city | 308 | $72,500 | 3.6% | $123,700 |
| Hendrum city | 190 | $53,472 | 18.4% | $131,300 |
| Borup city | 137 | $42,386 | 21.2% | $61,100 |
| Perley city | 108 | $71,458 | 17.6% | $84,400 |
Cities Similar to Shelly city
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahnomen CDP | 191 | N/A | N/A | 8.2% | 60.9% |
| Elrosa city | 194 | $54,375 | $164,100 | 15.2% | 8.8% |
| Tenstrike city | 203 | $50,833 | $236,500 | 24.6% | 7.4% |
| Callaway city | 197 | $55,000 | $83,300 | 15.4% | 8.1% |
| Woodstock city | 196 | $55,699 | N/A | 13.3% | 2.6% |
Population Overview
Shelly city is a small community located in Minnesota, within Norman County. The total population is 195. It ranks as the 692nd most populous out of 913 cities and towns in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shelly city is 34.6 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shelly city is $51,250. This is 41% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 77% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 14.6%. This is 272% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $88,300. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $305,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Shelly city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 72.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Shelly city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%.
Education
20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Shelly city, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 913 Census-designated places in Minnesota. For official data, visit data.census.gov.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Shelly city, Minnesota?
Shelly city, Minnesota has a population of 195 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Shelly city, MN?
The median household income in Shelly city is $51,250, which is 35% lower the national median of $78,538.
What is the poverty rate in Shelly city, MN?
The poverty rate in Shelly city is 16.3%. This means approximately 30 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Shelly city, Minnesota?
Shelly city's population is 71.3% White, 7.2% Black, 7.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Shelly city, MN?
The median home value in Shelly city is $88,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.
How educated is Shelly city, Minnesota?
20.0% of adults (25+) in Shelly city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.