Population 6,133 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Sheldon: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Sheldon
Household size in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.27 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Sheldon run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has climbed from 2.19 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Sheldon is 37.5 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 43.6, even as the national median rose. Sheldon is younger than the great majority of Iowa cities.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sheldon: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Sheldon has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Iowa cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sheldon
Renters in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.4% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Sheldon rent their homes (28.4%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 43.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Sheldon than nationally: 11.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Sheldon is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $522 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $516 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $587 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $806 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$285 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Sheldon runs $806 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $285 a month since 2006–10, up 55%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 18.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sheldon
Bachelor's degrees in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sheldon: 21.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Compared with other Iowa cities, Sheldon has a lower share of college graduates than most.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Sheldon never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sheldon
| Period | Sheldon | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.3% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sheldon has been low: just 0.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Iowa city with 5,000+ people has lower unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sheldon compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon | 2.46 | 37.5 | 7.2% | 28.4% | 11.7% | 1968 | $806 | 21.1% | 86.5% | 0.6% |
| Matlock | 2.90 | 34.7 | 5.2% | 8.8% | 12.8% | 1956 | $819 | 23.9% | 91.8% | 0.1% |
| Archer | 2.77 | 34.6 | 2.5% | 16.6% | 15.6% | 1940 | $439 | 26.6% | 88.4% | 0.0% |
| Hospers | 2.73 | 34.4 | 3.2% | 14.2% | 6.0% | 1957 | $686 | 21.8% | 93.2% | 2.7% |
| Boyden | 2.84 | 36.7 | 5.5% | 9.9% | 3.6% | 1960 | $767 | 22.0% | 94.9% | 0.3% |
| Ashton | 2.19 | 53.4 | 5.1% | 7.7% | 4.3% | 1950 | $888 | 11.3% | 90.6% | 0.0% |
| Newkirk | 3.09 | 30.5 | 7.1% | 9.8% | 4.7% | 1964 | $753 | 30.5% | 97.9% | 0.7% |
| Sanborn | 2.17 | 47.5 | 7.3% | 25.9% | 4.4% | 1966 | $932 | 23.8% | 95.3% | 1.7% |
| Primghar | 2.68 | 33.4 | 8.5% | 16.7% | 10.3% | 1959 | $783 | 26.4% | 93.8% | 1.2% |
| George | 2.25 | 46.7 | 7.3% | 20.7% | 4.7% | 1954 | $848 | 21.5% | 93.4% | 1.9% |
| Granville | 2.76 | 40.7 | 1.3% | 11.4% | 3.8% | 1965 | $677 | 30.9% | 95.4% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Salmon, ID · Green Oaks, IL · Greenback, TN · Greensburg, KY · Greenwich, NY · Greenwood, DE · Gretna, VA · Grifton, NC · Grimesland, NC · Groesbeck, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sheldon. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.