Sheldahl is a small town of 382 in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,375
and a 14.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sheldahl stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sheldahl is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sheldahl city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.4
Sheldahl's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sheldahl costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sheldahl, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$154,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,063
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sheldahl's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.4 /100k
Property Crime
1179.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Sheldahl, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sheldahl sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 84.7°F in July,
with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Sheldahl's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sheldahl roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $154,300 and median rent is $1,063/month.
Sheldahl's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1179.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Sheldahl, IA has a population of 382, a median household income of $64,375, and an unemployment rate of 14.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Sheldahl averages 30.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches
with about 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sheldahl, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50243.
The population of Sheldahl, Iowa is 382 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sheldahl: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $154,300, median household income $64,375, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sheldahl side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
