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O'Brien County, IA
8 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in O'Brien County, Iowa.
Population
14,126
Land area
573sq mi
People per sq mi
25
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in O'Brien County
O'Brien County at a glance
- O'Brien County is 57% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- The median household income is $68,356, 9% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $173,100 (17% below Iowa) and median rent is $868 a month.
- Its largest cities are Sheldon (5,474), Hartley (1,553) and Sanborn (1,323).
Local data for O'Brien County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
O'Brien County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$68,356
Poverty rate
13.3%
Median home value
$173,100
Prices +5.8% in a year
Median rent
$868/mo
Homeownership
76.1%
Bachelor's or higher
22.0%
Median age
39.5
Average commute
19.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,608), Dutch Americans (2,686), Irish Americans (1,101).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.2%
Sep 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,710
6,559 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$67,449
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$101M
FY 2026, $7,130 per person
PPP loans
$52.6M
1,838 loans, 5,751 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$122K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
O'Brien County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.3%
- Carpooled9.8%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked2.6%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home7.1%
Average one-way commute: 19.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
O'Brien County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
721
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
5
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 9°F
31.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in O'Brien County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.8%
U.S. 33.3% +5.5 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.4%
U.S. 12.8% +3.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.4%
U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in O'Brien County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in O'Brien County, IA?
- Sheldon is the largest city or town in O'Brien County, with about 5,474 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in O'Brien County?
- O'Brien County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 51009, 51046, 51058, 51201, 51231.
- What is the population of O'Brien County, IA?
- About 14,126 people live in O'Brien County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border O'Brien County?
- O'Brien County borders Sioux County, Plymouth County, Buena Vista County, Dickinson County, Clay County, Lyon County, Cherokee County, Osceola County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023