Zip code 51201: Sheldon, Iowa

Q: What city is zip code 51201?

51201 is assigned to Sheldon, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 51201 in?

51201 is mostly in Sioux County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 51201?

About 6,430 people live in 51201, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 51201?

The median household income in 51201 is $68,799.

Q: What zip codes are near 51201?

The closest zip codes to 51201 are 51244, 51238, 51234, 51231, 51232.

Residential delivery areaSioux CountyCentral Time

Population

6,430

Median household income

$69K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$198K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$930/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

116 sq mi

56 people/sq mi

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

About 51201

51201 is a small-town zip code in Sheldon, Iowa (Sioux County), covering 116 sq mi of land. About 6,430 people live here, or 56 per square mile. The median resident is 37.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $68,799 a year, 15% below the national median of $80,734. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $197,800, or 2.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $930 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 16.1 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; transportation and moving goods; and sales.

How 51201 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy13.5%
83rd
U.S. 10.1% · IA 8.5%226th of 909 in IA
Broadband access95.1%
77th
U.S. 91% · IA 88.9%87th of 909 in IA
Poverty rate14.5%
68th
U.S. 12.5% · IA 11.1%174th of 909 in IA
Self-employed workers10.7%
66th
U.S. 10% · IA 10.2%597th of 911 in IA
Residents under 1823.5%
63rd
U.S. 22% · IA 22.9%437th of 911 in IA
Homeownership rate71.6%
57th
U.S. 65.2% · IA 71.7%753rd of 909 in IA
Residents 65 and older17.2%
55th
U.S. 17.2% · IA 18.1%635th of 911 in IA
Foreign-born residents8.1%
43rd
U.S. 14.1% · IA 5.9%76th of 911 in IA
Median earnings per worker$45,423
42nd
U.S. $49,666 · IA $47,712555th of 910 in IA
Median age37.9
41st
U.S. 38.9 · IA 38.6699th of 911 in IA
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · IA 2.9%211th of 911 in IA
Median household income$68,799
34th
U.S. $80,734 · IA $75,059572nd of 896 in IA
Government workers11.8%
34th
U.S. 14.5% · IA 14.5%559th of 911 in IA
Per capita income$34,229
32nd
U.S. $44,673 · IA $40,877650th of 911 in IA
Diversity index35.5
30th
U.S. 61.4 · IA 31.485th of 911 in IA
Bachelor's degree or higher21.8%
25th
U.S. 35.7% · IA 31.4%420th of 911 in IA
Veterans3.8%
24th
U.S. 6.2% · IA 6.5%798th of 911 in IA
Median home value$197,800
21st
U.S. $332,700 · IA $208,000279th of 881 in IA
Median gross rent$930
16th
U.S. $1,413 · IA $972228th of 771 in IA
Population6,430
10th
U.S. 334,922,499 · IA 3,210,507118th of 911 in IA
Uninsured rate2.7%
10th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · IA 5%576th of 911 in IA
Healthcare workers6.1%
9th
U.S. 9.7% · IA 9.2%667th of 911 in IA
Population density56/sq mi
8th
U.S. 95/sq mi · IA 58/sq mi219th of 911 in IA
Work from home4.1%
5th
U.S. 15.1% · IA 11.3%748th of 911 in IA
Income inequality (Gini)0.359
4th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · IA 0.444662nd of 908 in IA
Rent-burdened renters26.9%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · IA 43.9%557th of 882 in IA
Average commute16.1 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · IA 19.8 min822nd of 902 in IA
Unemployment rate0.5%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · IA 3.6%744th of 911 in IA

Measure	51201	Sioux	IA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in IA
Housing vacancy	13.5%	4.5%	8.5%	10.1%	83rd	226th of 909
Broadband access	95.1%	92.4%	88.9%	91%	77th	87th of 909
Poverty rate	14.5%	6.7%	11.1%	12.5%	68th	174th of 909
Self-employed workers	10.7%	16.6%	10.2%	10%	66th	597th of 911
Residents under 18	23.5%	27.2%	22.9%	22%	63rd	437th of 911
Homeownership rate	71.6%	76.1%	71.7%	65.2%	57th	753rd of 909
Residents 65 and older	17.2%	16.2%	18.1%	17.2%	55th	635th of 911
Foreign-born residents	8.1%	8.5%	5.9%	14.1%	43rd	76th of 911
Median earnings per worker	$45,423	$45,574	$47,712	$49,666	42nd	555th of 910
Median age	37.9	33.8	38.6	38.9	41st	699th of 911
Tech workers	2.2%	1.4%	2.9%	3.8%	37th	211th of 911
Median household income	$68,799	$86,098	$75,059	$80,734	34th	572nd of 896
Government workers	11.8%	9.5%	14.5%	14.5%	34th	559th of 911
Per capita income	$34,229	$37,166	$40,877	$44,673	32nd	650th of 911
Diversity index	35.5	29.4	31.4	61.4	30th	85th of 911
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.8%	30.6%	31.4%	35.7%	25th	420th of 911
Veterans	3.8%	3.7%	6.5%	6.2%	24th	798th of 911
Median home value	$197,800	$250,100	$208,000	$332,700	21st	279th of 881
Median gross rent	$930	$908	$972	$1,413	16th	228th of 771
Population	6,430	36,212	3,210,507	334,922,499	10th	118th of 911
Uninsured rateStrength	2.7%	5.8%	5%	8.4%	10th	576th of 911
Healthcare workers	6.1%	8.1%	9.2%	9.7%	9th	667th of 911
Population density	56/sq mi	47/sq mi	58/sq mi	95/sq mi	8th	219th of 911
Work from home	4.1%	12.8%	11.3%	15.1%	5th	748th of 911
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.359	0.409	0.444	0.483	4th	662nd of 908
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	26.9%	30%	43.9%	51.1%	3rd	557th of 882
Average commuteStrength	16.1 min	13.5 min	19.8 min	26.4 min	2nd	822nd of 902
Unemployment rateStrength	0.5%	1.5%	3.6%	5.2%	1st	744th 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

16%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

14%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.9

Under 18

23.5%

65 and over

17.2%

Race and ethnicity

White79%
Black2%
Hispanic15%
Asian1%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0.3%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

35.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

69.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

89%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.3%

Asian / Pacific

0.9%

Other

Households

Households: 2,550
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 66.7%
Married couples: 58%
Living alone: 27.4%
Veterans (of adults): 3.8%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

51201

$68,799

Sioux Co.

$86,098

Iowa

$75,059

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,229

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

13.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.359

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

51201

$197,800

Sioux Co.

$250,100

Iowa

$208,000

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

51201

$930

Sioux Co.

$908

Iowa

$972

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,948
Owner-occupied: 71.6%
Vacant: 13.5%
Median year built: 1966
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 26.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 15.2%
Home value to income: 2.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

15%

Transit

0.5%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.5%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

46%

10–19

24%

20–29

13%

30–44

10%

45–59

60+

Average commute

16.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

0.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

69.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

14%

Transportation and moving

12%

Sales

11%

Education

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Production

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Industries

Manufacturing

20%

Education

13%

Retail

13%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Information

Arts and recreation

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$45,423

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

11.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	51201	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$54,759	$74,888
Service	$13,317	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,654	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$51,818	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,068	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

33%

Some college

13%

Associate's

19%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 86.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
Households with broadband: 95.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.7%
No internet access: 3.1%
Without health insurance: 2.7%
Limited-English households: 1.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Sheldon
State: Iowa
County: Sioux County
Center point: 43.1824° N, 95.8656° W
Land area: 116 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

51201 spans 3 counties

Sioux County49% of land
O'Brien County49% of land
Lyon County2% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Sheldon4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 51201

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
51244	Matlock, IA	5.5 mi	144	$83,365	$95,000
51238	Hospers, IA	7.6 mi	1,502	$74,000	$182,500
51234	Boyden, IA	7.8 mi	1,172	$84,318	$211,800
51231	Archer, IA	8.2 mi	562	$108,058	$189,500
51232	Ashton, IA	8.3 mi	658	$82,917	$107,500
51248	Sanborn, IA	11 mi	1,534	$64,375	$172,800
51237	George, IA	13 mi	1,605	$61,667	$159,500
51022	Granville, IA	14 mi	960	$96,505	$174,800
51239	Hull, IA	14 mi	2,876	$77,540	$236,500
51003	Alton, IA	15 mi	1,938	$101,250	$232,700
51245	Primghar, IA	15 mi	1,377	$69,531	$149,700
51041	Orange City, IA	15 mi	7,324	$83,643	$277,000

Zip codes like 51201 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 51201

What city is zip code 51201?

51201 is assigned to Sheldon, Iowa. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 51201 in?

51201 is mostly in Sioux County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 51201?

About 6,430 people live in 51201, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 51201 in?

51201 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 51201?

The median household income in 51201 is $68,799.

What zip codes are near 51201?

The closest zip codes to 51201 are 51244, 51238, 51234, 51231, 51232.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 51201, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.