| Index | Shellsburg | Iowa | National |
| Cost of living | 92 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 83 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 91 | 94 | 100 |

| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $111,756 | $9,313 | $2,607 | $3,353 |
| Renters | $48,468 | $4,039 | $1,131 | $1,454 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Iowa | 4.4% | 6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Watkins, IA | 88 | 74 | 25.6% |
| Garrison, IA | 285 | 79 | 20.5% |
| Mount Auburn, IA | 161 | 81 | 19.2% |
| Norway, IA | 463 | 86 | 14.1% |
| Newhall, IA | 1,139 | 87 | 13.1% |
| Shellsburg, IA | 826 | 92 | 8.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Haxtun, CO | 826 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Wheelwright, KY | 826 | 82 | 18.2% |
| Lot 6, PE | 826 | n/a | |
| Upper Bear Creek, CO | 825 | 241 | 141.5% |
| Waleska, GA | 827 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Shellsburg, IA | 826 | 92 | 8.1% |