City · Iowa
Sanborn, Iowa
Sanborn, city, in O'Brien County, Iowa. Sanborn had 1,463 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,392 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,323 (±188). GEOID 1970410.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,463
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,392 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,323 ±188
Median household income
$59,417
±$10,046 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$168,500
±$27,252 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$954
±$74 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Sanborn and what county is it in?
Sanborn is a city in O'Brien County, Iowa. It covers 1.9 square miles of land, 741 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sanborn, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,463 people lived in Sanborn on July 1, 2025, up 5.0% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,392 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,323 (±188).
| Measure | Sanborn | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,323 ±188 | 14,126 | no clear change |
| Households | 593 ±84 | 5,809 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.12 ±0.23 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 609 ±83 | 6,564 | no clear change |
Sanborn's population since 2000
From 1,353 in 2000 to 1,463 in 2025: up 8.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sanborn as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sanborn?
The median resident of Sanborn is 45.5 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 35.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.3%.
| Measure | Sanborn | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 ±8.8 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% ±4.9 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 35.8% ±7.3 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±4.3 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2% ±3.4 pts | 7.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.9% ±5.2 pts | 87.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±3.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.6% ±3.3 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.7% ±4.4 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.3% ±3.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 18.6% ±4.8 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7% ±3.4 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.8% ±6.1 pts | 22.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.1% ±1.9 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.2% ±6.8 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Sanborn earn?
Half of Sanborn's 593 households earn less than $59,417 a year (±$10,046), against $68,356 in O'Brien County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $59,996 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sanborn | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,417 ±$10,046 | $68,356 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $81,053 ±$18,287 | $84,439 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,620 ±$7,774 | $35,198 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.5% ±7.2 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.9% ±7.8 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.7% ±3.9 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.9% ±4.5 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.8% ±5.6 pts | 90.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Sanborn?
Owners occupy 72.5% of Sanborn's occupied homes and renters 27.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500 by its owner (±$27,252). The median renter pays $954 a month including utilities, and 51.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sanborn | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $168,500 ±$27,252 | $173,100 | +$50,600 |
| Median gross rent | $954 ±$74 | $868 | +$222 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.6% ±16.8 pts | 26.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,154 ±$127 | $1,357 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.5% ±7.9 pts | 76.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.5% ±7.9 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Housing units | 609 ±83 | 6,564 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9% ±9.7 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.2% ±7.2 pts | 82.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.8% ±2.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.2% ±7.6 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.6% ±4.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Sanborn building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Sanborn in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 5.5 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Sanborn work and get to work?
81.2% of Sanborn's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 17.5 minutes.
| Measure | Sanborn | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.6% ±6.5 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1% ±3.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 81.2% ±8.7 pts | 79.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.6% ±6.4 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.5% ±4.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.5 min ±2.9 | 19.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Sanborn?
No census tract lies mostly in Sanborn; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4902O'Brien County | 4,049 | $71,534 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Sanborn) · Census block assignment files
How does Sanborn compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sanborn is the 8,822nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 213th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Sanborn ranks 222nd of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 213th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 44th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 216th | 279 |
| Median household income | 222nd | 279 |
| Per capita income | 151st | 279 |
| Median home value | 140th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 68th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 69th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 147th | 279 |
| Median age | 43rd | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 153rd | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 198th | 279 |
Sanborn's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Sanborn with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Sanborn?
21 of the 57 figures for Sanborn on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sanborn are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Sanborn.