Shell Lake is a township in Becker County, Minnesota, home to about 365 people across 29 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56501, 56570 and 56578.
Homes sold for a median of $217 per square foot across 3 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 3 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Detroit Lakes; part is in Shell Lake
Mostly Osage; part is in Shell Lake
Mostly Holmesville; part is in Shell Lake
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Shell Lake. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Shell Lake’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Shell Lake well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)178 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Hector International Airport (FAR)59 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN172 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL522 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Shell Lake; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Shell Lake had 288 residents in the 2020 census, down 8% since 2000.
It’s the 1324th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Becker County grew from 14,375 residents in 1900 to 35,183 in 2020.
Becker County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average -4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 48 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Detroit Lakes 1 Nne, MN weather station (13 miles away).
10,874 jobs at 956 businesses in Becker County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
283 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Shell Lake’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 26 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 27 |
| Dentists | 9 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 67 |
| Mental health providers | 76 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 63 |
| Optometrists | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 10 |
| Pharmacies | 9 |
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.
Public schools here are run by Detroit Lakes Public School Dist.. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Early Childhood Ed. CenterDetroit Lakes | Pre-K | 64 | Public | 14.2 mi |
| Roosevelt ElementaryDetroit Lakes | Pre-K–5 | 562 | Public | 13.6 mi |
| Rossman ElementaryDetroit Lakes | Pre-K–5 | 565 | Public | 14.6 mi |
| Voluntary Pre-KindergartenDetroit Lakes | Pre-K | 17 | Public | 14.2 mi |
| Out of State Care and TreatmentDetroit Lakes | K–12 | — | Alternative Education | 14.2 mi |
| Detroit Lakes MiddleDetroit Lakes | 6–8 | 617 | Public | 13.6 mi |
| Detroit Lakes Middle AlcDetroit Lakes | 6–8 | — | Alternative Education | 13.6 mi |
| Afterschool ProgramDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | — | Alternative Education | 14.2 mi |
| Detroit Lakes Alternative ProgramDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | — | Alternative Education | 13.4 mi |
| Detroit Lakes Area Learning CenterDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | 57 | Alternative Education | 13.4 mi |
| Detroit Lakes Senior HighDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | 791 | Public | 14.0 mi |
| E-Laker Online SchoolDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | 38 | Public | 14.2 mi |
| Hs Extended Year ProgramDetroit Lakes | 9–12 | — | Alternative Education | 14.2 mi |
| Laker TransitionsDetroit Lakes | 12 | 17 | Special Education | 13.3 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faith Christian SchoolDetroit Lakes | Pre-K–9 | 48 | Other Lutheran | 16.4 mi |
| Holy RosaryDetroit Lakes | Pre-K–8 | 134 | Roman Catholic | 14.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Detroit Lakes, Lake View, Detroit, Erie, Lake Eunice, Richwood, Osage, Holmesville, Height of Land, Dunn, Wolf Lake Township, Toad Lake, Carsonville, Green Valley, Two Inlets and Hamden.
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.