Zip code 50243: Sheldahl, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 50243?

50243 is assigned to Sheldahl, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 50243 in?

50243 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 50243?

About 361 people live in 50243, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 50243?

The median household income in 50243 is $80,938.

Q: What zip codes are near 50243?

The closest zip codes to 50243 are 50244, 50226, 50124, 50134, 50156.

Residential delivery areaPolk CountyCentral Time

Population

361

Small sample: rough estimates

Median household income

$81K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$185K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

0.8 sq mi

450 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 50243

50243 is a small-town zip code in Sheldahl, Iowa (Polk County), covering 0.8 sq mi of land. About 361 people live here, or 450 per square mile. The median resident is 36 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally. With so few residents, the Census figures below are rough estimates with wide margins of error.

The median household earns $80,938 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 5.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $184,700, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 93% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.5 minutes each way, and 15% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; business and finance; and management.

How 50243 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Only about 361 people live here, so these survey estimates have wide margins of error.

Homeownership rate93%
98th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%96th of 909 in IA
Unemployment rate12.7%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%22nd of 911 in IA
Residents under 1831.6%
97th
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%71st of 911 in IA
Rent-burdened renters66.7%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%71st of 882 in IA
Housing vacancy18.4%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%110th of 909 in IA
Broadband access93.8%
64th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%160th of 909 in IA
Work from home15.2%
62nd
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%159th of 911 in IA
Average commute27.5 min
60th
U.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min209th of 902 in IA
Median earnings per worker$48,958
52nd
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712382nd of 910 in IA
Median household income$80,938
51st
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059327th of 896 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher31.1%
48th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%151st of 911 in IA
Population density450/sq mi
31st
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi95th of 911 in IA
Median age36
27th
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6776th of 911 in IA
Veterans3.6%
21st
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%813th of 911 in IA
Government workers10.3%
21st
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%650th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$30,280
20th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877806th of 911 in IA
Median home value$184,700
18th
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000331st of 881 in IA
Healthcare workers6.7%
13th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%618th of 911 in IA
Poverty rate5.1%
12th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%673rd of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers5.5%
7th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%830th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate2.2%
6th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%650th of 911 in IA
Residents 65 and older8.3%
4th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%880th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.349
3rd
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444708th of 908 in IA
Population361
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507763rd of 911 in IA
Diversity index2.2
1st
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.4846th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%865th of 911 in IA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%844th of 911 in IA

Measure	50243	Polk	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Homeownership rateStrength	93%	67.4%	71.7%	65.2%	98th	96th of 909
Unemployment rateWeakness	12.7%	4.4%	3.6%	5.2%	98th	22nd of 911
Residents under 18	31.6%	24.4%	22.9%	22%	97th	71st of 911
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	66.7%	46.2%	43.9%	51.1%	95th	71st of 882
Housing vacancy	18.4%	6%	8.5%	10.1%	92nd	110th of 909
Broadband access	93.8%	91.9%	88.9%	91%	64th	160th of 909
Work from home	15.2%	15.7%	11.3%	15.1%	62nd	159th of 911
Average commute	27.5 min	20 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	60th	209th of 902
Median earnings per worker	$48,958	$52,504	$47,712	$49,666	52nd	382nd of 910
Median household income	$80,938	$83,576	$75,059	$80,734	51st	327th of 896
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.1%	40.3%	31.4%	35.7%	48th	151st of 911
Population density	450/sq mi	879/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	31st	95th of 911
Median age	36	36.2	38.6	38.9	27th	776th of 911
Veterans	3.6%	5.6%	6.5%	6.2%	21st	813th of 911
Government workers	10.3%	12.7%	14.5%	14.5%	21st	650th of 911
Per capita incomeWeakness	$30,280	$45,622	$40,877	$44,673	20th	806th of 911
Median home value	$184,700	$262,100	$208,000	$332,700	18th	331st of 881
Healthcare workers	6.7%	8.2%	9.2%	9.7%	13th	618th of 911
Poverty rateStrength	5.1%	10.3%	11.1%	12.5%	12th	673rd of 909
Self-employed workers	5.5%	7.2%	10.2%	10%	7th	830th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	2.2%	5.3%	5%	8.4%	6th	650th of 911
Residents 65 and older	8.3%	14%	18.1%	17.2%	4th	880th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.349	0.437	0.444	0.483	3rd	708th of 908
Population	361	503,175	3,210,507	334,922,499	1st	763rd of 911
Diversity index	2.2	44.5	31.4	61.4	1st	846th of 911
Foreign-born residents	0%	10.1%	5.9%	14.1%	1st	865th of 911
Tech workers	0%	5.2%	2.9%	3.8%	1st	844th of 911

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

23%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

16%

35–44

14%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

31.6%

65 and over

8.3%

Race and ethnicity

White99%
Black0%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.8%
Multiracial0.3%

Diversity index

2.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

75.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.8%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 129
Average household size: 2.8
Family households: 72.9%
Married couples: 64.3%
Living alone: 22.5%
Veterans (of adults): 3.6%
Male / female: 55% / 45%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

12%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

34%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

50243

$80,938

Polk Co.

$83,576

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$30,280

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

5.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

6.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.349

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

50243

$184,700

Polk Co.

$262,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

50243

—

Polk Co.

$1,149

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

93%

2–4 units

0.6%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 158
Owner-occupied: 93%
Vacant: 18.4%
Median year built: 1973
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 66.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.2%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

15%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

0.7%

10–19

22%

20–29

28%

30–44

41%

45–59

60+

Average commute

27.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

12.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

13%

Business and finance

13%

Management

11%

Construction and repair

11%

Production

10%

Transportation and moving

10%

Office and admin

Healthcare

Food service

Sales

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Education

Arts, media and sports

0.6%

Computer and math

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

21%

Finance, insurance and real estate

13%

Manufacturing

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Retail

Education

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Other services

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$48,958

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

5.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	50243	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$51,771	$74,888
Service	$30,341	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,688	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$55,000	$49,199
Production and transportation	$63,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

23%

Some college

20%

Associate's

17%

Bachelor's

28%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Households with broadband: 93.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 82.9%
No internet access: 6.2%
Without health insurance: 2.2%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Sheldahl
State: Iowa
County: Polk County
Center point: 41.8646° N, 93.6967° W
Land area: 0.8 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

50243 spans 3 counties

Polk County37% of land
Story County32% of land
Boone County31% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Sheldahl100% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 50243

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
50244	Slater, IA	2.5 mi	1,729	$120,313	$250,800
50226	Polk City, IA	4.7 mi	7,759	$153,011	$417,500
50124	Huxley, IA	5 mi	4,859	$114,904	$305,200
50134	Kelley, IA	5.3 mi	770	$111,250	$300,000
50156	Madrid, IA	5.9 mi	4,575	$98,054	$243,800
50007	Alleman, IA	6.5 mi	444	$120,417	$308,300
50109	Granger, IA	8.4 mi	3,309	$118,669	$370,100
50046	Cambridge, IA	9.3 mi	1,554	$81,500	$229,200
50152	Luther, IA	9.5 mi	138	$93,750	$183,300
50023	Ankeny, IA	10 mi	46,306	$117,826	$345,100
50073	Elkhart, IA	10 mi	1,208	$100,972	$274,700
50013	Ames, IA	11 mi	4,211	—	—

Questions about 50243

What city is zip code 50243?

50243 is assigned to Sheldahl, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 50243 in?

50243 is mostly in Polk County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 50243?

About 361 people live in 50243, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 50243 in?

50243 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 50243?

The median household income in 50243 is $80,938.

What zip codes are near 50243?

The closest zip codes to 50243 are 50244, 50226, 50124, 50134, 50156.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 50243, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.