County profile · Iowa
Shelby County, IA market data
How Shelby County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 11,689
- −0.2% since 2020
- Households
- 4,882
- Median household income
- $72,738
- +25.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $164,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,366
- Highest market score
- 60
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #742 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Shelby County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Shelby County has an estimated 11,689 people and 4,882 households. Population estimates put the population change in Shelby County from 2020 to 2025 at −0.2%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Shelby County is $72,738, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Shelby County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (72).
Of the business types scored in Shelby County, medical and dental practices (60), real estate agents and brokers (58) and clothing and shoe stores (55) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #742 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (39% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Shelby County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Shelby County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 60 | #742 of 2,394 | 25 | 51.2 | $278K | 182 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 58 | #640 of 2,176 | 6 | 12.3 | Index only | 211 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 55 | #854 of 2,087 | 6 | 12.3 | $1.6M | 128 | 3 |
| Real estate | 54 | #847 of 2,229 | 6 | 12.3 | Index only | 265 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 53 | #1,012 of 2,210 | 9 | 18.4 | $1.1M | 123 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #1,076 of 2,405 | 23 | 47.1 | $831K | 125 | 10 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 51 | #1,116 of 2,222 | 8 | 16.4 | $2.4M | 78 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,155 of 2,402 | 9 | 18.4 | $3.3M | 97 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 50 | #1,100 of 2,200 | 6 | 12.3 | $692K | 79 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 47 | #1,034 of 1,886 | 5 | 10.2 | $1.4M | 141 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 47 | #1,342 of 2,401 | 26 | 53.3 | $236K | 88 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 46 | #1,362 of 2,405 | 55 | 112.7 | $347K | 94 | 19 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 44 | #1,153 of 1,889 | 5 | 10.2 | $3.8M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 44 | #1,541 of 2,385 | 26 | 53.3 | $187K | 88 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #1,785 of 2,378 | 18 | 36.9 | $341K | 77 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,806 of 2,358 | 13 | 26.6 | $1.2M | 50 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 33 | #1,660 of 2,063 | 8 | 16.4 | $2.4M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 30 | #2,034 of 2,339 | 22 | 45.1 | $221K | 51 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 14 | #2,199 of 2,272 | 17 | 34.8 | $551K | 44 | 19 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $7.4M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $238K | 35 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $1.1M | 170 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $1.7M | 56 | 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $4.8M | 94 | 7 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 8.2 | $1.5M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $677K | 68 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $2.3M | 97 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $2M | 66 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $4.5M | 184 | 11 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $2.3M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $14.8M | Too few | 4 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $3M | Too few | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.1 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.1M | Too few | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $13.4M | Too few | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.1M | Too few | 5 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Shelby County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $6.1M | $1,257 | 131 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $15.4M | $3,152 | 121 |
| Food away from home | $19.1M | $3,913 | 96 |
| Groceries | $29.5M | $6,049 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.9M | $998 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $416 | 72 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.5M | $921 | 94 |
| Medical and dental services | $7M | $1,425 | 111 |
| Pets | $4.2M | $850 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $9.8M | $1,998 | 97 |
| Vehicle insurance | $9.4M | $1,917 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $13.4M | $2,750 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.1M | $1,248 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $68.9M | $14,114 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Shelby County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 11,689−0.2% since 2020
- Households
- 4,882
- Median age
- 44.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 591 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 20
- Median household income
- $72,738+25.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $97,055
- Median home value
- $164,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,366
- Daytime population
- 11,696Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Shelby County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Iowa 8
- Audubon County, IA5,599 people
- Harrison County, IA14,632 people
- Crawford County, IA16,277 people
- Cass County, IA13,096 people
- Carroll County, IA20,594 people
- Pottawattamie County, IA93,424 people
- Monona County, IA8,557 people
- Montgomery County, IA10,214 people
Questions
How fast is Shelby County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Shelby County at 11,689 people in 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 4,882 households. Median household income rose 25.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Shelby County, IA spend?
Households in Shelby County spend about $68.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $29.5M on groceries and $19.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Shelby County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (72).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Shelby County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Shelby County are for medical and dental practices (60), real estate agents and brokers (58) and clothing and shoe stores (55). Shelby County ranks #742 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Shelby County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Shelby County is $72,738 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $164,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Shelby County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (39% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 19 of the 56 business types have a score in Shelby County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Shelby County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Shelby County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.