City · Iowa
Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon, city, mostly in O'Brien County (95.3% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Sioux County, Iowa. Sheldon had 5,575 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,512 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,474 (±99). GEOID 1972390.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,575
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,512 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,474 ±99
Median household income
$62,159
±$13,185 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$192,700
±$21,502 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$930
±$103 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Sheldon and what county is it in?
Sheldon is a city mostly in O'Brien County (95.3% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Sioux County, Iowa. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 1,148 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County | 5,251 | 95.3% |
| Sioux County | 261 | 4.7% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sheldon, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,575 people lived in Sheldon on July 1, 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, in line with Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 5,512 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,474 (±99).
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,474 ±99 | 14,126 | +346 |
| Households | 2,195 ±176 | 5,809 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.35 ±0.19 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,553 ±192 | 6,564 | no clear change |
Sheldon's population since 2000
From 4,914 in 2000 to 5,575 in 2025: up 13.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sheldon 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 Sheldon?
The median resident of Sheldon is 37.6 years old; 23.1% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 17.1%. 9.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 ±2.0 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.1% ±3.1 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.1% ±2.7 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Male | 48.2% ±2.9 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 17.1% ±1.9 pts | 7.6% | +8.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.0% ±3.1 pts | 87.0% | −11.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.7 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.5% ±2.8 pts | 4.4% | +3.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.5% ±4.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3% ±2.3 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0% ±4.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.0% ±2.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.1% ±5.3 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.8% ±6.2 pts | 22.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.1% ±2.9 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.9% ±7.9 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.8% ±2.5 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 Sheldon earn?
Half of Sheldon's 2,195 households earn less than $62,159 a year (±$13,185), against $68,356 in O'Brien County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $65,362 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,159 ±$13,185 | $68,356 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $81,447 ±$8,095 | $84,439 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,893 ±$3,370 | $35,198 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.3% ±4.7 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.3% ±7.0 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.1% ±4.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±3.1 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.3% ±3.4 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 Sheldon?
Owners occupy 67.0% of Sheldon's occupied homes and renters 33.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,700 by its owner (±$21,502). The median renter pays $930 a month including utilities, and 19.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $192,700 ±$21,502 | $173,100 | +$32,094 |
| Median gross rent | $930 ±$103 | $868 | +$243 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.2% ±12.4 pts | 26.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,392 ±$92 | $1,357 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.0% ±8.7 pts | 76.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 33.0% ±8.7 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Housing units | 2,553 ±192 | 6,564 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% ±7.8 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.8% ±7.5 pts | 82.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% ±3.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.8% ±3.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.1% ±4.8 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.8% ±3.1 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 Sheldon building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Sheldon in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 1.4 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 Sheldon work and get to work?
76.1% of Sheldon's workers drive alone and 4.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.6 minutes.
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.0% ±5.9 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.1% ±7.2 pts | 79.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.7% ±7.8 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±1.6 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.4% ±2.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.6 min ±3.0 | 19.0 min | +4.7 min |
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 Sheldon?
1 census tract lies mostly in Sheldon, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4903O'Brien County | 5,237 | $66,250 |
| Tract 4902O'Brien County | 4,049 | $71,534 |
| Tract 701Sioux County | 3,974 | $84,398 |
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 Sheldon) · Census block assignment files
How does Sheldon compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sheldon is the 4,606th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 74th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Sheldon ranks 196th 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 | 74th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 95th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 115th | 279 |
| Median household income | 196th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 202nd | 279 |
| Median home value | 97th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 85th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 190th | 279 |
| Median age | 187th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 213th | 279 |
| Work from home | 205th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 216th | 279 |
Sheldon's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Sheldon 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 Sheldon?
12 of the 57 figures for Sheldon 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 Sheldon 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 Sheldon.