The Town FilesSheldon, Iowa
City in O'Brien County · population 5,512 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $192,700
- Household income
- $62,159
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 37.6
Sheldon is a city of 5,512 people in O'Brien County, Iowa. The median home is worth $192,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 78% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Iowa towns.
How Sheldon ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sheldon is worth $192,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $62,159, which is more affordable than 10% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $930 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sheldon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $930 | $820 |
| Median household income | $62,159 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sheldon
| People | Sheldon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Sheldon
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.2°F. About 31.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheldon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1971 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 9, 2009.
Severe weather in O'Brien County since 1996
O'Brien County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in O'Brien County
O'Brien County had 6,603 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,407 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Sheldon itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Sheldon
4 public schools with 1,160 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Elementary School | PK-4 | 460 | 14.8 |
| Sheldon High School | 9-12 | 345 | 12.8 |
| Sheldon Middle School | 5-8 | 319 | 15.2 |
| Little Orabs Preschool | PK-PK | 36 | — |
Towns near Sheldon
- Sibley, IA16.1 mi · 2,860 people · home $122,000
- Orange City, IA16.3 mi · 6,267 people · home $264,000
- Sioux Center, IA18.0 mi · 8,229 people · home $290,800
- Rock Valley, IA22.5 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Rock Rapids, IA23.6 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
Sheldon questions
Is Sheldon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sheldon scores better for retirees than 25% of Iowa towns and quieter than 26%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Sheldon?
The median owner-occupied home in Sheldon is valued at $192,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,159, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $930 a month.
What is the weather like in Sheldon?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 5.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.1 inches of precipitation a year and 40.8 inches of snow.
Does Sheldon get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheldon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1971. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)