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Living in
Shelton.
About
Life in Shelton
Shelton is a community of 10,619 people in Washington. The median household income is $69,598, median rent runs about $1,365 per month, and median home values are around $345,700. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.
Shelton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Foreign-Born
14.2%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
+5.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.2% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Shelton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shelton, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (51.2%), and 19.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% below WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Shelton
In Shelton, rent runs 22% below the WA average, and home values are 39% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,085
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $418,789 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above WA average
Unemployment in Shelton
Unemployment in Mason County, which includes Shelton, is 0.7 percentage points higher than the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Shelton: Mason County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Mason County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Shelton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.1 min avg
How Shelton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shelton, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shelton runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
453.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,256.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shelton Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Mason County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Mason County, which includes Shelton, the most common type is flood, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heavy Rain | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 2 | Flood | $13,600 |
| 2019 | 1 | Tornado | $150,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
24 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Mason County, county-wide
Air Quality23 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Mason County, which includes Shelton, is typically good — 330 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
23
Good Days
330
per year
Moderate Days
34
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Mason County, county-wide
Climate76°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Shelton has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
67.9"
Annual Snowfall
4.4"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
80
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
167
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 34°F | 11.08" |
| Feb | 50°F | 33°F | 6.66" |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 7.24" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.86" |
| May | 67°F | 44°F | 2.62" |
| Jun | 72°F | 49°F | 1.54" |
| Jul | 78°F | 52°F | 0.68" |
| Aug | 79°F | 52°F | 1.22" |
| Sep | 74°F | 48°F | 2.50" |
| Oct | 62°F | 41°F | 6.99" |
| Nov | 52°F | 36°F | 11.60" |
| Dec | 46°F | 33°F | 10.92" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shelton
Shelton has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Capital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.4 mi away · Olympia
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shelton
Shelton's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shelton
Shelton has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
45 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
48 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
71 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
71 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shelton
Shelton (William G. Reed) Public Library
710 W. Alder St., Shelton
Cities Near Shelton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shelton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shelton FAQ
Is Shelton, Washington affordable?⌄
Shelton's median rent is $1,365/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $69,598/year. Median home value is $345,700.
Is Shelton, Washington safe?⌄
Shelton's violent crime rate was 453 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2256 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shelton, Washington?⌄
Mason County, which includes Shelton, has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shelton, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Shelton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,365/month and median household income is $69,598/year. The median home value is $345,700. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shelton, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Shelton is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from