Shell Lake city, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Shell Lake city is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Washburn County. The total population is 1,513. It ranks as the 309th most populous out of 807 cities and towns in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shell Lake city is 45.0 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 13.0% 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 Shell Lake city is $56,875. This is 25% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $207,100. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 71.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Shell Lake city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.6%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

28.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shell Lake city, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 807 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. For official data, visit data.census.gov.