51201 ZIP Code — Sheldon, IA
Obrien County, Iowa
ZIP code 51201 is located in Sheldon, Iowa, within Obrien County. It covers approximately 115.66 square miles and serves a population of 6,278 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 712.
About ZIP code 51201
The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1950s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $165,900. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 72%.
Median household income is $69,041. 33% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 13 minutes is near the national average.
College attainment at 21% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.
6,278
population
115.66
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Central (CT)
timezone
51201 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 51201
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 51201. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Sheldon | Acceptable |
| Sheldon | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
51238 Hospers (7.2 mi)
51234 Boyden (8 mi)
51231 Archer (8.1 mi)
51232 Ashton (9.2 mi)
51248 Sanborn (10.6 mi)
51237 George (13.2 mi)
51022 Granville (13.6 mi)
51239 Hull (14.5 mi)
51245 Primghar (14.5 mi)
51003 Alton (15 mi)
51041 Orange City (15.1 mi)
51350 Melvin (16.6 mi)
Demographics
updated 05/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 6,278 |
| Population density | 54 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 19 |
| County FIPS | 141 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 115.66 sq mi |
| Water area | 0.03 sq mi |
| Latitude | 43.1784 |
| Longitude | -95.8612 |
| Timezone | Central (CT) |
| Area code | 712 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 05/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 41.4% | 43.1% | 40.1% |
| $50k – $100k | 36.7% | 37.3% | 33.4% |
| $100k – $200k | 18.7% | 16.5% | 21.5% |
| Over $200k | 3.2% | 3.1% | 5.0% |
Demographics & statistics
6,278
Population
54
People per sq mi
38.5
Median age
$69,041
Median household income
$31,095
Per capita income
$165,900
Median home value
$639
Median monthly rent
71.8%
Home ownership
13.9%
Poverty rate
1.5%
Unemployment
2,136
Housing units
20.8%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
192
Under 5
188
235
5–9
231
165
10–14
161
191
15–19
188
208
20–24
203
427
25–34
418
450
35–44
442
298
45–54
293
184
55–59
181
260
60–64
255
356
65–74
350
90
75–84
89
113
85+
110
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1,373 | 21.9% |
| 18 and over | 4,905 | 78.1% |
| 65 and over | 1,108 | 17.6% |
| Median age | 38.5 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
79.2%
Hispanic or Latino
8%
Two or more races
7%
Other race
2.6%
Black or African American
1.9%
Asian
0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 5,410 | 79.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 549 | 8% |
| Two or more races | 480 | 7% |
| Other race | 180 | 2.6% |
| Black or African American | 131 | 1.9% |
| Asian | 58 | 0.8% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 19 | 0.3% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 41.4% | 43.1% | 40.1% |
| $50k – $100k | 36.7% | 37.3% | 33.4% |
| $100k – $200k | 18.7% | 16.5% | 21.5% |
| Over $200k | 3.2% | 3.1% | 5.0% |
Under $10k
3.6%
$10k–$15k
1.8%
$15k–$25k
6.1%
$25k–$35k
8.0%
$35k–$50k
17.5%
$50k–$75k
18.6%
$75k–$100k
14.8%
$100k–$150k
19.7%
$150k–$200k
7.9%
$200k+
2.1%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 3.6% |
| $10k–$15k | 1.8% |
| $15k–$25k | 6.1% |
| $25k–$35k | 8.0% |
| $35k–$50k | 17.5% |
| $50k–$75k | 18.6% |
| $75k–$100k | 14.8% |
| $100k–$150k | 19.7% |
| $150k–$200k | 7.9% |
| $200k+ | 2.1% |
| Median income | $69,041 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
7.3%
$50k–$100k
15.7%
$100k–$150k
20.0%
$150k–$200k
20.9%
$200k–$300k
20.2%
$300k–$500k
15.3%
$1M+
0.6%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,900 |
| Median rent / month | $639 |
| Owner occupied | 71.8% |
| Renter occupied | 28.2% |
| Vacant | 14.5% |
| Single-family detached | 72.9% |
| Large apartment buildings | 11.5% |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% |
| Median rooms | 6.1 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.68 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.0% |
| 2010–2019 | 3.6% |
| 2000–2009 | 8.9% |
| 1990–1999 | 8.7% |
| 1980–1989 | 7.7% |
| 1970–1979 | 15.9% |
| 1960–1969 | 8.6% |
| 1950–1959 | 20.9% |
| 1940–1949 | 11.4% |
| 1939 or earlier | 14.2% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 0.0% |
| 1 bedroom | 14.7% |
| 2 bedrooms | 23.1% |
| 3 bedrooms | 31.3% |
| 4 bedrooms | 21.0% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 9.9% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 11.5% |
| 1 vehicle | 27.3% |
| 2 vehicles | 35.1% |
| 3 or more | 26.1% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 48.4% |
| Electricity | 43.4% |
| Propane / LP gas | 5.0% |
| Fuel oil | 0.8% |
| Wood | 0.8% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 1,327 | 55.1% |
| Cohabiting couple | 163 | 6.8% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 505 | 21.0% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 412 | 17.1% |
| Households with children under 18 | 689 | 28.6% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 738 | 30.7% |
| Average household size | 2.49 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 35.0% | 29.4% |
| Married | 53.4% | 53.8% |
| Separated | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Widowed | 1.9% | 9.9% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 6.2% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
0.9%
Some HS, no diploma
9.2%
HS graduate
35.8%
Some college, no degree
15.8%
Associate's degree
17.5%
Bachelor's degree
16.7%
Graduate / professional
4.2%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 89.9% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.8% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 176 | 12.8% |
| Kindergarten | 69 | 5.0% |
| Elementary school | 661 | 48.1% |
| High school | 261 | 19.0% |
| College / grad school | 207 | 15.1% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
26.5%
Manufacturing
21.5%
Retail trade
10.6%
Agriculture & mining
9.0%
Other services
6.7%
Transportation & utilities
6.4%
Construction
4.7%
Wholesale trade
4.7%
Arts, food & hospitality
3.7%
Finance & real estate
2.2%
Public administration
2.2%
Professional & management
1.4%
Information
0.4%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 33.9% |
| Service | 13.4% |
| Sales & office | 13.2% |
| Natural resources & construction | 13.7% |
| Production & transportation | 25.8% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 77.3% |
| Government | 14.0% |
| Self-employed | 8.4% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.3% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 77.7% |
| Carpool | 16.0% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 1.0% |
| Work from home | 4.8% |
| Other means | 0.5% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 12.9 |
Poverty
All people
13.9%
Under 18 years
12.8%
18 and over
14.2%
Married-couple families
4.3%
Female-led households
48.2%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 32.5% |
| Retirement income | 18.7% |
| Supplemental Security | 2.5% |
| Cash public assistance | 1.5% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 6.6% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 34.0% |
| High blood pressure | 33.2% |
| High cholesterol | 32.8% |
| Diabetes | 9.8% |
| Heart disease | 6.9% |
| Stroke | 3.2% |
| Asthma | 9.0% |
| Arthritis | 24.9% |
| Kidney disease | 3.0% |
| Pulmonary disease | 6.9% |
| Cancer | 7.4% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 16.8% |
| Binge drinking | 21.3% |
| No physical activity | 27.0% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 29.4% |
| Depression | 17.2% |
| Fair or poor health | 12.9% |
| Poor mental health | 13.2% |
| Poor physical health | 9.7% |
| No health insurance | 10.1% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 74.8% |
| Visited dentist | 66.4% |
| Cholesterol screening | 87.7% |
| Teeth loss | 14.2% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 294 | 6.0% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 14.7% |
| Under 18 | 3.0% |
| 18–64 years | 18.0% |
| 65 and over | 18.2% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 74.3% |
| Public insurance | 41.7% |
| No insurance | 2.0% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 4.0% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 5,898 | 93.9% |
| Spanish | 196 | 3.3% |
| Other Indo-European | 109 | 1.8% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.1% |
| Other languages | 47 | 0.8% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 5,914 | 94.2% |
| Born in same state | 5,711 | 91.0% |
| Born in different state | 4,643 | 74.0% |
| Foreign born | 203 | 3.2% |
| Naturalized citizen | 364 | 5.8% |
| Not a US citizen | 143 | 39.3% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English | 1,997 | 31.8% |
| Polish | 373 | 5.9% |
| French | 292 | 4.7% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Italian | 255 | 4.1% |
| Arab | 196 | 3.1% |
| Dutch | 11 | 0.2% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 38.3% |
| Internet access | 93.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 51201
What city is ZIP code 51201 in?
ZIP code 51201 is primarily assigned to Sheldon, Iowa.
What county is ZIP code 51201 in?
ZIP code 51201 falls within Obrien County, Iowa.
What is the typical home value in ZIP code 51201?
The median home value in ZIP code 51201 is $165,900.
What is the population of ZIP code 51201?
ZIP code 51201 has an estimated population of 6,278 residents, with a density of 54 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in ZIP code 51201?
The median household income in ZIP code 51201 is $69,041, below the national median of ~$75,000.
What timezone is ZIP code 51201 in?
ZIP code 51201 observes the CST timezone.