Living in Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Shell Lake · Census data 2020–2024
Shell Lake has 1,459 residents with a median age of 49.8. The median household income is $57,500 (26% lower than the Wisconsin median), the median home value is $229,400, the median rent is $450/month.
Shell Lake is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Shell Lake at a glance
- Population
- 1,459
- Median age
- 49.8State: 40.2
- Median household income
- $57,500State: $77,485
- Median home value
- $229,400State: $266,500
- Median rent
- $450/moState: $1,087
- Homeowners
- 77.6%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Average commute
- 19 min
Is Shell Lake a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 14% lower than the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes; unemployment of 0.5%; a poverty rate of 8.9%.
Cons: Median household income 26% lower than the Wisconsin median.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Shell Lake
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Shell Lake the median home value is $229,400, 31% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $450 per month, which is 27.9% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,219 a month in housing costs.
Shell Lake median household income
The median household income in Shell Lake is $57,500 and the income per person is $42,316. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line (Wisconsin: 10.6%).
Housing in Shell Lake: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 945
- Owner-occupied
- 77.6%
- Renter-occupied
- 22.4%
- Vacant
- 34.8%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1976
- Average household size
- 2.23
34.8% of homes are vacant most of the year, a sign that Shell Lake has many vacation and second homes.
Shell Lake demographics
- Population
- 1,459
- Median age
- 49.8
- Under 18
- 22.1%
- 65 and older
- 30.7%
- Households
- 616
- Foreign-born
- 4.5%
- Veterans
- 9.9%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Shell Lake ›
Education in Shell Lake
32% of adults 25 and older in Shell Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher (Wisconsin: 33.4%), and 9.3% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Shell Lake
- Unemployment rate
- 0.5%State: 3.2%
- Average commute
- 19 minState: 22 min
- Work from home
- 12.3%
- Drive alone
- 69.5%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 1.8%
- Homes with broadband
- 83.8%
Shell Lake vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Lake | 1,459 | $57,500 | $229,400 | $450 |
| Spooner | 2,278 | $44,737 | $165,500 | $763 |
| Haugen | 284 | $76,250 | $144,200 | — |
| Trego | 142 | $51,250 | $151,400 | $817 |
| Cumberland | 2,282 | $49,479 | $181,100 | $943 |
| Birchwood | 451 | $54,091 | $141,900 | $594 |
| Rice Lake | 9,030 | $52,417 | $193,800 | $856 |
| Stone Lake | 127 | $43,393 | $193,400 | — |
| Almena | 641 | $48,333 | $116,300 | $786 |
More for people moving to Shell Lake
Shell Lake ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Shell Lake: FAQ
What is the median household income in Shell Lake, WI?
The median household income in Shell Lake is $57,500, 26% lower than the Wisconsin median of $77,485 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Shell Lake?
The median home value in Shell Lake is $229,400, compared with $266,500 in Wisconsin.
How much is rent in Shell Lake?
The median gross rent in Shell Lake is $450 per month, about 27.9% of household income.
Is Shell Lake, WI a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 14% lower than the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes; unemployment of 0.5%; a poverty rate of 8.9%. Minuses: median household income 26% lower than the Wisconsin median.
What is the median age in Shell Lake?
The median age in Shell Lake is 49.8 years (Wisconsin: 40.2).
How long is the commute in Shell Lake?
The average commute to work in Shell Lake is 19 minutes; 12.3% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Shell Lake?
The unemployment rate in Shell Lake is 0.5% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Shell Lake?
32% of adults in Shell Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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