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CITY

Sheldon

Illinois · 931 residents (2025 est.) · 0.753 sq mi
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The short version

Sheldon has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,280. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $78,000. Households here earn about 47% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,195
−3%since 2000
from 1,232 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,587 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,636 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+17%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:931 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8219591K1K1K1990201020202024Sheldon
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,280
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,463 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,118
+112%since 2000
from $15,627 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.8%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.2%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.486
+24%since 2010
from 0.391 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information26.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade13%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade8.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food5.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$78,000
−35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$801
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $416 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.4%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
31.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.3%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.1%
−26.4 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
−5%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
14
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sheldon on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(1,197)
Black0.4%(5)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(14)
Asian0.3%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.6%(57)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(1,146)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(40)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0.7%(8)
Diversity Score9.9%(118)
Diversity Score
10
+113%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
77.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 74.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 1.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+33%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 79.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.1%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
18.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2011
from 13.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
13.7%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.9%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
46.1%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.6%
+12.4 ptssince 2012
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.4%
−77.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2017
from 77.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 4.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sheldon, Illinois?

Sheldon, Illinois has about 1,195 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sheldon, Illinois?

The typical household in Sheldon, Illinois earns about $44,280 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sheldon, Illinois expensive?

In Sheldon, Illinois, the median home is worth about $78,000, and the typical rent is about $801 a month.

How educated are people in Sheldon, Illinois?

About 7.9% of adults age 25 and over in Sheldon, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sheldon, Illinois?

About 19.2% of people in Sheldon, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sheldon, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Sheldon, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 93 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Sheldon, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy