Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Sheldon, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

5,474

Median Agei

37.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

76%4,161

Hispanic/Latino

17.1%938

Black

2.6%143

Two or More

2.2%119

Asian

1.3%73

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.4%22

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%18

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.2%119

High School Diploma

31.6%1,182

Some College (<1 yr)

5.6%211

Some College (1+ yr)

7.4%278

Associate's Degree

16.5%619

Bachelor's Degree

15.7%587

Master's Degree

4.8%179

Professional Degree

0.3%12

HS or Higher

85.1%

BA or Higher

20.8%

Graduate+

5.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$192,700

Median Renti

$930

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

67%1,471

Renter-Occupied

33%724

Total Units

2,553

Homeownership

67%

Vacancy Rate

14%

Home Values

Under $50K

4.7%69

$50K–$100K

9.2%135

$100K–$150K

16.2%238

$150K–$200K

23.3%343

$200K–$300K

25%368

$300K–$500K

18.6%273

$500K–$1M

3.1%45

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

193

$750–$1,000

120

$1,000–$1,250

224

$1,250–$1,500

Year Built

2020 or later

1.2%30

2010–2019

6.8%173

2000–2009

10.9%278

1990–1999

7.3%186

1980–1989

10.7%274

1970–1979

13.8%353

1960–1969

9.3%238

1950–1959

23.2%592

1940–1949

5.7%145

1939 or earlier

11.1%284

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

55.4%1,215

Electricity

41.9%920

Other

2%44

Bottled/LP Gas

0.7%16

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$62,159

Mean Household Incomei

$81,447

Per Capita Incomei

$33,893

Poverty Ratei

14.8%

Unemploymenti

0.6%

Labor Forcei

2,937

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

0.8%17

$10K–$15K

5%110

$20K–$25K

3.5%77

$25K–$30K

6.8%150

$30K–$35K

2.6%58

$35K–$40K

2.9%64

$40K–$45K

6.1%134

$45K–$50K

4.5%98

$50K–$60K

16.4%361

$60K–$75K

6.3%138

$75K–$100K

15.6%343

$100K–$125K

12.7%278

$125K–$150K

3.1%67

$150K–$200K

9.2%201

$200K+

4.5%99

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

105

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$392/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

2 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers56 homes80% occupied$451/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 849 homes57% occupied$325/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $62,159/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

83.6%

Very low income$19K–$31K/yr

16.4%

Who Receives This Housing

58% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

10.5% of subsidized households are minority

60.4% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

43.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

5229.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

221

Germany

India

China

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

2,787

Avg. Commutei

16.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

2,919

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

179(4.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97%Insured

3%Uninsured