Sheldon, IA
Census place 1972390 · pop 5,474
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
20.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
352 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$62,159 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.29% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
17.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
67.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+6.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$192,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
612 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.36 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
Not measured for Sheldon: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Sheldon, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Sheldon scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is income inequality and its weakest is bachelor's degree or higher. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Sheldon, IA?
- Sheldon reports 352 violent crimes per 100k and 612 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Sheldon, IA expensive to live in?
- Sheldon has a median home value of $192,700 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Sheldon, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (20.8%) — 24/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Sheldon, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is income inequality (0.36) — 94/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.