Sheldon, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · O'Brien County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
5,386 Population 1,122/sq mi density
$68,448 Median Income $31,568 per capita
$173,600 Home Value $228,985 Zillow
$842 Median Rent 19.1% income on rent
45°F Avg Temperature
352 Violent Crime/100K 612 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$68,448 median income, 0.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$173,600 home value, $842/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
352 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
20.9% bachelor's degree or higher

Sheldon, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$68,448
9% below
$31,568 per capita
Home Value
$173,600
38% below
Zillow: $228,985
Median Rent
$842/mo
28% below
19.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
352/100K
7% below
612/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
20.9%
38% below
86.2% high school+
Unemployment
0.7%
81% below
10.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.9%
21% above
17.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F

How Sheldon Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Sheldon's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
91%
Home Value
62%
Rent
72%
Poverty
82%
Bachelor's
62%
Unemployment
19%
Crime
93%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Sheldon a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Sheldon residents earn a median household income of $68,448 , which is 9% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $31,568. The unemployment rate stands at 0.7% (81% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 626 business establishments, including 28 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Sheldon is $173,600 , 38% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $228,985. Median rent is $842/month, with 19.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1967.

Safety & Crime

Sheldon reports 352 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 7% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 612/100K.

Education

20.9% of adults in Sheldon hold a bachelor's degree or higher (38% below the national average). 86.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Sheldon has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 31.1 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population5,386
Median Age35.8 yrs
Density1,122/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born8.8%
Veterans3.8%

Economy

A
Median Income$68,448
Per Capita$31,568
Unemployment0.7%
Poverty10.2%
County GDP$1,250M
Avg Weekly Wage$931

Housing

A+
Home Value$173,600
Rent$842
Ownership69.1%
Zillow$228,985
Housing Units2,448
Rent Burden19.1%

Crime

F
Violent352/100K
Property612/100K

Health

Obesity38.9%
Diabetes10.0%
Smoking17.2%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death8,489/100K

Climate

Avg Temp45°F
Rain31.1 in/yr
Elevation1,434 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.9%
High School+86.2%
Graduate+4.3%
School Score6.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 80% / D 19%
Commute17 min
Broadband91.9%
Internet Speed105 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries7

Did You Know?

The median home in Sheldon was built in 1967.
The nearest airport is Joe Foss Field (53 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.396 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
14.7% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 105 Mbps.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.