Sheldon, Iowa
City in O'Brien County, Iowa · ZIP 51201
- O'Brien County
- Census data · ACS 2019-2023
- 4 public schools
- 5,584 (2024 estimate)Population
- 2,086Households
- $68,448Median household income
- $173,600Median home value
- 4Public schools
- 1ZIP codes
About Sheldon
This page shows only what has been published about Sheldon: Census facts with their sources first, then its businesses, jobs, events, people in public roles, housing and questions as they are added. Nothing here is written by the town government.
Town intelligenceOfficial sources, refreshed yearly
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4,914 |
| 2010 | 5,188 |
| 2020 | 5,512 |
As counted at each census, within the boundaries the area had then; the current estimate is in the glance card.
Sources: Census 2000 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2010 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2020 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171): total population, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Median household income $68,448 · Share of households by income, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table S1901.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year subject table S1901 (household income) 2019–2023, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026.
- Owner occupied
- 1,441 units
- Renter occupied
- 645 units
- Vacancy rate
- 14.4%
Occupied housing units by tenure and the share of all units vacant, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table DP04.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026.
| Measure | Sheldon | O'Brien County | Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,386 | 14,103 | 3,195,937 |
| Median household income | $68,448 | $68,216 | $73,147 |
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| Median home value | $173,600 | $158,900 | $195,900 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 20.9% | 22.5% | 30.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 8.8% | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.1% | 77.3% | 71.5% |
| Mean commute to work | 16.8 minutes | 18.4 minutes | 19.8 minutes |
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 19, retrieved November 14, 2026.
CommunityRules and moderation
Events in SheldonAll events
No upcoming event is listed in Sheldon yet. Members and businesses add events from the Events page; each is screened before it shows.
Schools
| School | Type | Grades | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Orabs Preschool | Public | Pre-K | Sheldon Comm School District |
| East Elementary School | Public | Pre-K–4 | Sheldon Comm School District |
| Sheldon Middle School | Public | 5–8 | Sheldon Comm School District |
| Sheldon High School | Public | 9–12 | Sheldon Comm School District |
Open public schools in the NCES directory for 2023–2024, placed by their listed location; private schools are not in the source. Enrollment and ratings are not shown.
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, public school directory 2023–2024, retrieved November 14, 2026; NCES EDGE public school geocodes 2024–2025, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked about SheldonPromoted from questions people asked
No question about Sheldon has been asked often enough to publish an answer yet. Ask Sheldon and the answer, once a person checks it, appears here.