Town guide

Shellsburg, Iowa

Shellsburg is a city in Benton County, Iowa, home to about 868 people across 0.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 52332.

Homes sold for a median of $155 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population8681,099 per sq mi
Median home value$175,800Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$155Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking0%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Shellsburg

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Shellsburg. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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  • History
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  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Shellsburg

Distances

Nearest major airportDes Moines International Airport (DSM)99 miles away
Closer regional airportThe Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)16 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Madison, WI142 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL216 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Shellsburg; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Shellsburg

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Shellsburg had 961 residents in the 2020 census, up 2% since 2000.

It’s the 326th largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.

Benton County grew from 25,177 residents in 1900 to 25,575 in 2020.

Shellsburg population by census2000: 938, 2010: 983, 2020: 961938200098320109612020

Benton County, 1900–2020

Benton County population, 1900 to 20201900: 25,177, 1910: 23,156, 1920: 24,080, 1930: 22,851, 1940: 22,879, 1950: 22,656, 1960: 23,422, 1970: 22,885, 1980: 23,649, 1990: 22,429, 2000: 25,308, 2010: 26,076, 2020: 25,57525K’00’1024K’20’3023K’40’5023K’60’7024K’80’9025K’00’1026K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 81°F in summer, and winter lows average 8°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 34 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near ShellsburgJan: high 26°F, low 8°F, 1.2 in; Feb: high 30°F, low 12°F, 1.3 in; Mar: high 44°F, low 24°F, 2.1 in; Apr: high 59°F, low 35°F, 3.9 in; May: high 69°F, low 47°F, 5 in; Jun: high 78°F, low 57°F, 5.6 in; Jul: high 81°F, low 60°F, 4.2 in; Aug: high 79°F, low 58°F, 4.2 in; Sep: high 74°F, low 50°F, 3.7 in; Oct: high 60°F, low 37°F, 3.2 in; Nov: high 44°F, low 25°F, 2.1 in; Dec: high 31°F, low 15°F, 1.6 in26°8°Jan1.230°12°Feb1.344°24°Mar2.159°35°Apr3.969°47°May5.078°57°Jun5.681°60°Jul4.279°58°Aug4.274°50°Sep3.760°37°Oct3.244°25°Nov2.131°15°Dec1.6Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Vinton, IA weather station (9 miles away).

Jobs in Benton County

4,296 jobs at 535 businesses in Benton County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Benton CountyHealth care and social assistance: 802 jobs; Retail trade: 748 jobs; Manufacturing: 687 jobs; Wholesale trade: 532 jobs; Construction: 328 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 324 jobs; Other services: 192 jobs; Finance and insurance: 151 jobsHealth care and social assistance 19% Retail trade 17% Manufacturing 16% Wholesale trade 12% Construction 8% Hotels and restaurants 8% Other services 5% Finance and insurance 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

1 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Shellsburg.

Nearest hospitals

  • Virginia Gay HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Vinton9.4 miles
  • St. Lukes HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Cedar Rapids13.0 miles
  • Mercy Medical Center - Cedar RapidsGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Cedar Rapids13.4 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Shellsburg

Parks (2 nearby)

  • Prairie Forest · 13 acres0.9 mi
  • Shellsburg Memorial Park · 7 acres0.6 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Shellsburg Public Library0.7 mi

Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Shellsburg

Public schools here are run by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Shellsburg Elementary SchoolShellsburgPre-K–5269Public0.8 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Towns near Shellsburg

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.