Residential delivery area · Iowa
ZIP Code 51201: Sheldon, IA
ZIP code 51201 uses the postal name Sheldon, Iowa and lies mostly in Sioux County (49% of its land), reaching into O'Brien County and Lyon County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 6,400 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $68,799 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 4% of its land lies in Sheldon; 96% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Sheldon · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Sioux County (49%); O'Brien County (49%); Lyon County (2%)
- Census places
- Sheldon
- House district
- IA-4 119th Congress
- State
- Iowa
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 115.7 sq mi · 56 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 51201?
51201 centers on 43.182°, -95.866° and covers 115.7 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 51244, 51238, 51234, 51231, 51232, 51248, 51237, 51041.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 51201, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 51201 compare with the rest of Sioux County?
| Measure | 51201 | In Sioux County | In IA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 6,430 | 4th of 19 | 118th of 970 |
| Median household income | $69k | 12th of 12 | 284th of 396 |
| Median home value | $198k | 12th of 14 | 188th of 423 |
Its median household income is higher than in 45% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 44% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 51201?
The 2020 Census counted 6,408 people in 51201; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 6,430. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 3.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 6,430
- 2020 Census count
- 6,408+3.5% since 2010 (6,193)
- Households
- 2,550
- Median age
- 37.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 51201?
Of the 6,430 people the ACS estimates in 51201, 23.5% are under 18 and 17.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (78.9%), then Hispanic or Latino (14.6%).
- Under 1823.5%
- 18 to 6459.3%
- 65 and older17.2%
- White, not Hispanic78.9%
- Hispanic or Latino14.6%
- Other or two or more3.1%
- Black, not Hispanic2.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 51201 earn?
Median household income is $68,799 (ACS 2020-2024), the 12th highest of the 12 ranked ZIP codes in Sioux County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($65,151 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $68,799±$14,580
- Income per person
- $34,229
- Below the poverty line
- 14.5%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 0.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 21.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $87,9352,770 returns; wages 58% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 51201?
FHFA's house price index for 51201, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 72% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 48% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $197,800
- Median gross rent
- $930
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 71.6%
- Housing units
- 2,948
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 51201?
243 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 4 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade40
- Other services (except public administration)36
- Health care and social assistance20
- Transportation and warehousing19
- Finance and insurance19
- Construction18
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 51201?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51244 | Matlock | 144 | $83k | 5.5 mi |
| 51238 | Hospers | 1,502 | $74k | 7.6 mi |
| 51234 | Boyden | 1,172 | $84k | 7.8 mi |
| 51231 | Archer | 562 | $108k | 8.2 mi |
| 51232 | Ashton | 658 | $83k | 8.3 mi |
| 51248 | Sanborn | 1,534 | $64k | 10.5 mi |
| 51237 | George | 1,605 | $62k | 12.6 mi |
| 51041 | Orange City | 7,324 | $84k | 15.3 mi |
| 51022 | Granville | 960 | $97k | 14.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.