Skip to content

Checked

Sanborn, IA

City in O'Brien County, Iowa.

Population

1,323

Land area

1.9sq mi

People per sq mi

705

ZIP codes

0

Sanborn and its ZIP codes

Full map

Sanborn at a glance

  • Sanborn is about 12 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
  • The median household income is $59,417, 21% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500 (19% below Iowa) and median rent is $954 a month.

Local data for Sanborn, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Sanborn, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$59,417

Poverty rate

13.5%

Median home value

$168,500

Median rent

$954/mo

Homeownership

72.5%

Bachelor's or higher

23.8%

Median age

45.5

Average commute

17.5 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Dutch Americans (476), German Americans (387), Irish Americans (104).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for O'Brien County. PPP loans are for Sanborn.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.4%

Aug 2026, -0.4 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

O'Brien County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Sanborn, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone81.2%
  • Carpooled7.6%
  • Public transit0.9%
  • Walked1.6%
  • Bicycle0.9%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
  • Worked from home6.5%

Average one-way commute: 17.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Sanborn, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: hail

Storm events since 1996

721

Countywide, mostly hail

Flood insurance policies

5

0.1% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

83° / 6°F

32.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Sanborn, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.1%

U.S. 33.3% +4.8 pts

Diabetes

13.4%

U.S. 12.1% +1.3 pts

Smoking

15.6%

U.S. 12.8% +2.8 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.8%

U.S. 11.1% -3.3 pts

Cities near Sanborn

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
ArcherCity6.6 mi0.1
PrimgharCity6.7 mi1.4
MelvinCity7.4 mi0.2
HartleyCity8.9 mi1.3
SheldonCity9.6 mi4.8
AshtonCity11 mi1.1
PaullinaCity14 mi0.9
HospersCity15 mi0.5
MatlockCity15 mi0.4
SibleyCity16 mi1.8
SutherlandCity16 mi0.8
EverlyCity17 mi1
CalumetCity17 mi0.3
OcheyedanCity17 mi1.1
GranvilleCity18 mi0.3
BoydenCity18 mi0.7

Frequently asked questions

What county is Sanborn, IA in?
Sanborn is in O'Brien County, Iowa.
What is the population of Sanborn, IA?
About 1,323 people live in Sanborn, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Sanborn?
Nearby places include Archer (6.6 mi), Primghar (6.7 mi), Melvin (7.4 mi), Hartley (8.9 mi), Sheldon (9.6 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023