United States › Iowa › Sheldon CITY
Sheldon Iowa · 5,575 residents (2025 est.) · 4.80 sq mi
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The short version
Sheldon is home to 5,474 people in Iowa. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. The typical home is worth $192,700, having more than doubled since 2000. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. 78% were living in the same home a year earlier. Renters pay $930 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,914 in 2000
5,575 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,140 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 1,005 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 5K 5K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Sheldon Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $62,159
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,058 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,254 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.501 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.1%
Transportation & warehousing 6.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.6%
Public administration 2.7%
Education & health services 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
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$192,700
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$930
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 70.3% in 2000
33.0% rent
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.20 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.7%(4,705)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(126)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 76%(4,161)
Hispanic / Latino 17.1%(938)
from 8 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 1 more ancestry group with data from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 78.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 0.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 79.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 5.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 66.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 79.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 33.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24%(43)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.1%(18)
Share of the 179 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Sheldon, Iowa? Sheldon, Iowa has about 5,474 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Sheldon, Iowa? The typical household in Sheldon, Iowa earns about $62,159 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Sheldon, Iowa expensive? In Sheldon, Iowa, the median home is worth about $192,700, and the typical rent is about $930 a month.
How educated are people in Sheldon, Iowa? About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in Sheldon, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Sheldon, Iowa? About 15.3% of people in Sheldon, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Sheldon, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Sheldon, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 531 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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