1st Advantage MortgageShelby County households have a median income of $72,738 and median rent of $783 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Shelby County
- Household income in Shelby County
- Work, industries and travel time in Shelby County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Shelby County
- Counties near Shelby County
- Towns and communities in Shelby County
- People and households in Shelby County
- Borrowing situations common in Shelby County
- What a median Shelby County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Shelby County
- Four steps for Shelby County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Shelby County
Shelby County is home to about 11,778 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 65th most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Spread over 591 square miles, that works out to roughly 19.9 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Shelby County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (10 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Harlan, with about 4,891 residents, or 42% of the county.
Household income in Shelby County
Shelby County households have a median income of $72,738 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 40th of 99 in Iowa.
| Yearly household income | Shelby County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.2% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | +1.7 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.6%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. For a borrower in Shelby County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Shelby County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Shelby County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Shelby County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.7% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -5.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Shelby County
Renters in Shelby County pay a median of $783 a month, 19% below the Iowa figure of $972. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $164,000, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%. Half the housing stock was built before 1949.
| Housing | Shelby County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $783/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,000 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.3% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near Shelby County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 34 miles). Income ranges from $58,229 in Audubon County to $79,535 in Harrison County; 3 of these neighbors top Shelby County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | - | $72,738 | $783/mo | 78% |
| Audubon County, IA | 21 mi | $58,229 | $759/mo | 76% |
| Crawford County, IA | 25 mi | $67,027 | $743/mo | 76% |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 26 mi | $73,602 | $1,018/mo | 70% |
| Harrison County, IA | 27 mi | $79,535 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Cass County, IA | 31 mi | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
| Carroll County, IA | 34 mi | $72,930 | $731/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Shelby County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Shelby County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 7,408 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. No Shelby County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan | city | 4,891 | $57,488 | $783 | 2 mi |
| Elk Horn | city | 728 | $64,250 | $668 | 14 mi |
| Earling | city | 478 | $43,750 | $815 | 9 mi |
| Irwin | city | 352 | $40,417 | $705 | 9 mi |
| Defiance | city | 251 | $53,542 | $770 | 10 mi |
| Panama | city | 245 | $63,125 | $940 | 9 mi |
| Portsmouth | city | 204 | $80,781 | $769 | 11 mi |
| Westphalia | city | 117 | $77,083 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Tennant | city | 84 | $62,885 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Kirkman | city | 58 | $77,917 | $1,167 | 4 mi |
| Corley | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Jacksonville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
People and households in Shelby County
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 2.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Shelby County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Shelby County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Shelby County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Shelby County borrowers.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
What a median Shelby County budget can carry
Here is the Shelby County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,062 a month: gross income for a household at the Shelby County median
- Less median rent of $783, which is 13% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,182 total minus rent leaves $1,399
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Shelby County's.
Licensing and complaints for Shelby County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Shelby County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Iowa: Iowa personal loans.
Four steps for Shelby County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Shelby County:
- Price the Shelby County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Shelby County-area credit union.
- Verify the Iowa license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Shelby County household make?
About $72,738 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Iowa median.
How does Shelby County rent compare with Iowa?
$783 locally versus $972 for the state, 19% below.
What are the biggest places in Shelby County?
By population: Harlan, Elk Horn, Earling, Irwin, Defiance. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Shelby County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Shelby County residents?
The Iowa Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Iowa; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.