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Sheldon, IA
City in O'Brien County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 51201.
Population
5,474
Land area
4.8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,140
ZIP codes
1
Sheldon and its ZIP codes
Sheldon at a glance
- Sheldon is about 20 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 76th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $62,159 a year, 17% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $192,700 (7% below Iowa) and median rent is $930 a month.
Local data for Sheldon, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Sheldon, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,159
Poverty rate
15.3%
Median home value
$192,700
Median rent
$930/mo
Homeownership
67.0%
Bachelor's or higher
20.8%
Median age
37.6
Average commute
16.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,717), Dutch Americans (1,297), Guatemalan Americans (383).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for O'Brien County. PPP loans are for Sheldon.
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
$22.8M
559 loans, 2,587 jobs reported
How people get to work
Sheldon, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.1%
- Carpooled16.7%
- Public transit0.5%
- Walked1.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home4.4%
Average one-way commute: 16.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Sheldon, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
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° / 5°F
31.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Sheldon, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.3%
U.S. 33.3% +4.0 pts
Diabetes
11.3%
U.S. 12.1% -0.8 pts
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.4%
U.S. 11.1% -1.7 pts
ZIP codes in Sheldon
1 in or overlapping Sheldon. Population shown
Cities near Sheldon
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| ArcherCity | 6.5 mi | 0.1 |
| MatlockCity | 6.6 mi | 0.4 |
| HospersCity | 7.9 mi | 0.5 |
| BoydenCity | 8.3 mi | 0.7 |
| AshtonCity | 9.3 mi | 1.1 |
| SanbornCity | 9.6 mi | 1.9 |
| PrimgharCity | 13 mi | 1.4 |
| GranvilleCity | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| GeorgeCity | 14 mi | 2.3 |
| MelvinCity | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| HullCity | 15 mi | 1.4 |
| AltonCity | 15 mi | 1.9 |
| PaullinaCity | 16 mi | 0.9 |
| Orange CityCity | 16 mi | 4.6 |
| SibleyCity | 16 mi | 1.8 |
| Sioux CenterCity | 18 mi | 6.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Sheldon, IA in?
- Sheldon is in O'Brien County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Sheldon, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Sheldon include 51201.
- What is the population of Sheldon, IA?
- About 5,474 people live in Sheldon, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Sheldon?
- Nearby places include Archer (6.5 mi), Matlock (6.6 mi), Hospers (7.9 mi), Boyden (8.3 mi), Ashton (9.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023