Village · Illinois
Sheldon, Illinois
Sheldon, village, in Iroquois County, Illinois. Sheldon had 931 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 965 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,195 (±256). GEOID 1769212.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
931
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 965 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,195 ±256
Median household income
$44,280
±$8,146 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$78,000
±$10,127 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$801
±$147 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Sheldon and what county is it in?
Sheldon is a village in Iroquois County, Illinois. It covers 0.8 square miles of land, 1,282 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sheldon lies entirely within Sheldon Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
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 931 people lived in Sheldon on July 1, 2025, down 4.0% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 965 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,195 (±256).
| Measure | Sheldon | Iroquois County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,195 ±256 | 26,449 | no clear change |
| Households | 551 ±119 | 11,443 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.13 ±0.24 | 2.27 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 598 ±122 | 12,789 | no clear change |
Sheldon's population since 2000
From 1,232 in 2000 to 931 in 2025: down 24.4%. 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 43.5 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 17.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.3%.
| Measure | Sheldon | Iroquois County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 ±8.8 | 44.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.4% ±6.6 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.2% ±5.6 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Male | 53.9% ±5.9 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.3% ±3.9 pts | 8.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 95.9% ±4.1 pts | 87.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.4% ±2.3 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±3.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| With a disability | 21.6% ±6.6 pts | 16.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.4% ±6.0 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 77.0% ±8.0 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 7.9% ±4.2 pts | 18.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.1% ±1.4 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.5% ±6.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
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 551 households earn less than $44,280 a year (±$8,146), against $66,255 in Iroquois County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $51,876 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sheldon | Iroquois County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $44,280 ±$8,146 | $66,255 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,655 ±$19,286 | $84,074 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,118 ±$8,636 | $36,404 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.2% ±10.1 pts | 12.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.1% ±20.5 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.8% ±10.9 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.0% ±4.3 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.1% ±11.0 pts | 86.5% | – |
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 68.4% of Sheldon's occupied homes and renters 31.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $78,000 by its owner (±$10,127). The median renter pays $801 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Sheldon | Iroquois County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $78,000 ±$10,127 | $137,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $801 ±$147 | $799 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 17.4% ±17.1 pts | 29.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $861 ±$32 | $1,290 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.4% ±10.6 pts | 80.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 31.6% ±10.6 pts | 20.0% | – |
| Housing units | 598 ±122 | 12,789 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.1% ±3.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±19.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.9% ±10.9 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.0% ±4.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±6.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±6.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 44.8% ±11.9 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.3% ±5.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
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 1 new housing units in Sheldon in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 1.1 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
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?
83.1% of Sheldon's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 18.3%.
| Measure | Sheldon | Iroquois County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.3% ±7.2 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 18.3% ±10.7 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.1% ±9.8 pts | 81.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.1% ±8.9 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±6.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±4.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.1% ±2.4 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±4.4 | 25.0 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 Sheldon?
No census tract lies mostly in Sheldon; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9505Iroquois County | 3,695 | $63,667 |
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 Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sheldon is the 10,583rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 671st-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Sheldon is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 671st | 1,294 |
Sheldon's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, 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?
23 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.