Cost of Living in Shelby County, Iowa
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Shelby County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Shelby County ranks #1,425 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 45%)
Sourced county brief
Shelby County Median Gross Rent Percentage Reaches 30.5 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Shelby County is 30.5%, which is 5.1 percentage points above the Iowa unweighted county mean of 25.4%. This value is the official ACS B25071 estimate for the county. The median gross rent is $783 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $832. For owners, the median selected monthly owner costs are $927, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median home value is $164,000, while the Iowa unweighted county mean is $171,037. The median renter-household income is estimated at $35,492. These statistics are snapshot estimates from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Shelby County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.5% of renter household income in Shelby County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $783 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $927. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. Shelby County's $783 median is 5.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Shelby County
Rent Burden
12.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,697
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Shelby County
Median home value is $164,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,309 vs. your max of $1,697.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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