City

Shell Lake, WI

1 ZIP code  ·  Washburn County  ·  Wisconsin

👥3,323Population
💰$70,100Median HH Income▼ 8% below avg
🎂44.1Median Age
🏠$215,100Median Home Value▼ 23% below avg
🎓38.9%College Grads≈ Avg
📊1.7%Unemployment▼ 66% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 46.6% Female 53.4% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 91.8%Hispanic: 1.6%Black: 0.4%Asian: 0.7%Other: 3.1%Race
White91.8%
Hispanic1.6%
Black0.4%
Asian0.7%
Other3.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
4%
5–17
18%
18–24
9%
25–44
20%
45–64
25%
65+
12%

Key Indicators

Median Age44.1 yrs
Avg HH Size2.49
Below Poverty8.1% ▼ 19% below avg
College Grads38.9% ≈ Avg
Unemployment1.7% ▼ 66% below avg
No HS Diploma16 (0.7%)
HS Graduate638 (29%)
Some College389 (17.7%)
Associates303 (13.8%)
Bachelors304 (13.8%)
Graduate Degree552 (25.1%)

Education

No HS: 0.7%HS Grad: 29%Some College: 17.7%Associates: 13.8%Bachelors: 13.8%Graduate: 25.1%Edu
No HS0.7%
HS Grad29.0%
Some College17.7%
Associates13.8%
Bachelors13.8%
Graduate25.1%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 80.8%Renter: 19.2%Tenure
Owner80.8%
Renter19.2%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
6%
$50k–$100k
10%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
15%
$200k–$300k
25%
$300k–$500k
17%
Over $500k
12%

Financials

Median HH Income$70,100 ▼ 8% below avg
Median Home Value$215,100 ▼ 23% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.1x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$740/mo
Total Housing Units1,914
Vacant Units614

Income Distribution

Under $25k
17%
$25k–$50k
19%
$50k–$75k
15%
$75k–$100k
16%
$100k–$150k
20%
$150k–$200k
7%
Over $200k
6%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
87%
Walked
2%
Work From Home
11%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
40%
15–30 min
35%
30–45 min
15%
Over 45 min
11%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
3%
1940s–1950s
7%
1960s–1970s
13%
1980s–1990s
18%
2000+
59%
About Shell Lake, WI

Shell Lake is a city in Wisconsin, located in Washburn County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 3,323 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 44.1 years.

Economically, Shell Lake is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $70,100 is near the national average. Approximately 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 1.7%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Shell Lake is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $215,100, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $740 per month. Homeownership is high at 80.8%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Shell Lake is moderately educated. 38.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is primarily White (91.84%).

Shell Lake, WI offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within Wisconsin.

ZIP Codes in Shell Lake
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
54871 3,323 $70,100 $215,100 $740 1.7% 38.9% 80.8%