Shell Valley, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Shell Valley is a small community located in North Dakota, within Rolette County. The total population is 1,243. It ranks as the 44th most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shell Valley is 27.0 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 35.9 years. With 34.9% of the population under 18, Shell Valley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shell Valley is $46,786. This is 39% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.5%. This is 99% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.8%. This is 256% higher than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $90,800. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Shell Valley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 62.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shell Valley is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 0.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (7.5%) is well below the state average of 81.7%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shell Valley, North Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.