RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · ID

Shelley

Pop. 5,092·24th most expensive in Idaho·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$953/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+3.0%
vs US Median
-$1,009
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Shelley rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Shelley · $953
More affordable than 98% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
15% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $953/mo, rent takes about 15% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$38,000/yr
Local median income
$77,563/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Shelley's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$800
1 BR
$850
2 BR
$1,060
3 BR
$1,490
4 BR+
$1,780
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,060/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $953 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$11,436/yr
At $953/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +3.0% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Shelley, ID is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 21.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
5,092
Median income
$77,563
Median age
30.8
Renters
25.3%
Age distribution
34.2%
20.2%
27.9%
Under 1834.2%
18–3420.2%
35–5427.9%
55–646.6%
65+11.1%
Gender
53%
47%
Male53%
Female47%
Race & ethnicity
77.8%
16.2%
White77.8%
Hispanic16.2%
Asian0.5%
Other5.3%
Education (25+)
29.2%
39%
21.5%
No HS diploma10.2%
HS diploma29.2%
Some college39%
Bachelor's+21.5%
Housing tenure
74.7%
25.3%
Owner74.7%
Renter25.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Shelley, ID has changed in 5 years

Income
$61,707 → $77,563
up 25.7%
Population
4,784 → 5,092
up 6.4%
Renter share
31.1% → 25.3%
-5.8 pts
Bachelor's+
17.6% → 21.5%
+3.9 pts
Median age
29.8 → 30.8
+1.0 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Shelley, ID now reports about $77,563, up from $61,707 in 2021. Census counts show Shelley, ID adding about 308 residents over the five-year window, up 6.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 31.1% to 25.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.6% to 21.5% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Shelley

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Shelley rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Shelley on your salary?

At $953/mo, how Shelley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Shelley rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Shelley. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Shelley

About renting in Shelley, ID

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Shelley is $953/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,060/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $850/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,490/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($77,563/yr), Shelley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Shelley an affordable city for renters?

Shelley is considered very affordable for renters. At $953/mo, rent takes approximately 15% of the local median household income ($77,563/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Shelley falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Shelley?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $38,000/year (~$18/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $953/mo in Shelley. The local median household income is $77,563/yr, meaning the typical Shelley household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Shelley?

Rent in Shelley has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Shelley rent compare to other cities in Idaho?

Shelley is one of the more affordable cities in Idaho for rent, ranking #24 out of 24 tracked cities at $953/mo.

What percentage of Shelley residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 25.3% of Shelley households are renters, while 74.7% are owner-occupied. Shelley leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Shelley rent compare to the national average?

Shelley's median rent of $953/mo is $1,009 (51%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Idaho, it ranks #24 out of 24 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
15%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $953/mo, rent takes ~15% of Shelley's median household income ($77,563/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Shelley 15%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5.8%
Run the Shelley affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Shelley
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Shelley, ID

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Shelley.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google