Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Shell Lake, WI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

1,459

Median Agei

49.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

89.9%1,312

Two or More

7.7%112

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%15

Black

0.5%8

Hispanic/Latino

0.4%6

Other

0.3%5

Asian

0.1%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%32

High School Diploma

24.5%259

Some College (<1 yr)

10.5%111

Some College (1+ yr)

11.1%117

Associate's Degree

10.9%115

Bachelor's Degree

22.7%240

Master's Degree

6.3%67

Professional Degree

1.4%15

Doctorate

1.5%16

HS or Higher

92%

BA or Higher

32%

Graduate+

9.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$229,400

Median Renti

$450

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

77.6%478

Renter-Occupied

22.4%138

Total Units

945

Homeownership

77.6%

Vacancy Rate

34.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

9.4%45

$50K–$100K

5.4%26

$100K–$150K

15.7%75

$150K–$200K

13.2%63

$200K–$300K

15.9%76

$300K–$500K

18.4%88

$500K–$1M

16.1%77

$1M+

5.9%28

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$57,500

Mean Household Incomei

$97,454

Per Capita Incomei

$42,316

Poverty Ratei

8.5%

Unemploymenti

0.5%

Labor Forcei

563

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.9%24

$10K–$15K

8.6%53

$15K–$20K

5.2%32

$20K–$25K

1.6%10

$25K–$30K

8.8%54

$30K–$35K

3.1%19

$35K–$40K

2.9%18

$40K–$45K

5.4%33

$45K–$50K

4.4%27

$50K–$60K

8.1%50

$60K–$75K

4.7%29

$75K–$100K

11.2%69

$100K–$125K

9.3%57

$125K–$150K

7.5%46

$150K–$200K

5.2%32

$200K+

10.2%63

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$445/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

2 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing29 homes93% occupied$450/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1 homes

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 821 homes95% occupied$438/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $57,500/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

57.3%

Very low income$17K–$29K/yr

34.4%

Low income$29K–$46K/yr

Moderate / aboveOver $46K/yr

2.3%

Who Receives This Housing

74.4% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

0% of subsidized households are minority

28% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

86.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

654.5%

By Region

Top Countries

United Kingdom

Canada

Germany

Philippines

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

545

Avg. Commutei

19 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

560

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

113(9.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97.6%Insured

2.4%Uninsured