What kinds of homes are in Shelby, IA?

Name: Types of homes in Shelby, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Shelby, IA has 408 (±76) homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is about 198 homes per square mile of land.

77.2% are detached single-family houses.

4.4% are in buildings of two to four units.

17.1% are in buildings of five or more units.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Housing units: 408 (±76)
Detached houses: 77.2%
2–4 unit buildings: 4.4%
5+ unit buildings: 17.1%

Homes in Shelby by building size

Housing units by units in structure, 2020–2024
Building type	Shelby	Shelby County	Iowa	United States
Single-family, detached	77.2% (±8.4 points)	87.1%	72.2%	61.3%
Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse)	0.0% (±5.9 points)	0.9%	4.5%	6.2%
2 units	0.0% (±5.9 points)	1.1%	2.1%	3.4%
3 or 4 units	4.4% (±3.3 points)	3.2%	3.5%	4.3%
5 to 9 units	6.4% (±6.2 points)	0.6%	3.6%	4.5%
10 to 19 units	0.7% (±1.3 points)	0.3%	4.0%	4.3%
20 or more units	10.0% (±5.8 points)	2.7%	6.9%	10.3%
Mobile home	0.7% (±1.1 points)	4.3%	3.2%	5.6%
Boat, RV, van, etc.	0.5% (±0.9 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%

In Shelby, the share of homes in buildings of five or more units is higher than in Shelby County (3.6%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (14.5%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (19.1%).

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units in places near Shelby

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Shelby
Place	Distance	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units	Compared with this place
Shelby	—	17.1% (±8.6 points)	—
Minden	5.5 mi	5.4% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different
Avoca	6.0 mi	7.5% (±4.2 points)	Lower
Tennant	6.1 mi	0.0% (±62.0 points)	Not measurably different
Persia	8.0 mi	0.0% (±35.5 points)	Not measurably different
Hancock	9.0 mi	0.0% (±35.9 points)	Not measurably different
Neola	9.5 mi	0.5% (±8.2 points)	Lower
Portsmouth	11 mi	1.9% (±29.4 points)	Not measurably different
Harlan	12 mi	6.5% (±2.8 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Avoca, IA (7.5%), Neola, IA (0.5%), Harlan, IA (6.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units across Shelby County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units
1	Shelby	17.1% (±8.6 points)
2	Harlan	6.5% (±2.8 points)
3	Portsmouth	1.9% (±29.4 points)
4	Defiance	0.8% (±25.9 points)
5 (tie)	Earling	0.0% (±18.0 points)
5 (tie)	Elk Horn	0.0% (±12.3 points)
5 (tie)	Irwin	0.0% (±21.8 points)

Showing 7 of 11 places in Shelby County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Shelby

How many homes are in Shelby?

Shelby, IA has an estimated 408 (±76) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Are most homes in Shelby houses or apartments?

77.2% are detached houses and 0.0% attached houses, while 21.5% are in buildings of two or more units.

How many two-family and small multifamily homes are in Shelby?

4.4% of homes in Shelby are in buildings of two to four units, the small rental buildings that are often owner-occupied.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Shelby city, Iowa

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Shelby city, Iowa (place:72300, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0007PE, DP04_0007PM, DP04_0008PE, DP04_0008PM, DP04_0009PE, DP04_0009PM, DP04_0010PE, DP04_0010PM, DP04_0011PE, DP04_0011PM, DP04_0012PE, DP04_0012PM, DP04_0013PE, DP04_0013PM, DP04_0014PE, DP04_0014PM, DP04_0015PE, DP04_0015PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.