What is the cost of living in Sheldon, IA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sheldon has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Iowa, Sheldon has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Iowa's index of 90.
The standard of living in Sheldon ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Sheldon ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Sheldon, check out:
Sheldon Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sheldon. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sheldon is 99.
The Groceries index in Sheldon is 96.
The Health index in Sheldon is 74.
The Housing index in Sheldon is 95.
The Transportation index in Sheldon is 103.
The Utilities index in Sheldon is 93.
| Living Expense | Sheldon | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
Sheldon Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Sheldon Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sheldon, IA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Sheldon is $220,402.
The Median Rent in Sheldon is $930.
The Median Income in Sheldon is $62,159.
The Home Value To Income in Sheldon is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sheldon is 0.18x.
Sheldon, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Sheldon Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Sheldon Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Sheldon Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Sheldon Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Sheldon SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sheldon
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sheldon. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Worthington, MN has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Sheldon.
Storm Lake, IA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Sheldon.
Spencer, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Sheldon.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worthington, MN | 13,780 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Storm Lake, IA | 11,428 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Spencer, IA | 11,400 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Brandon, SD | 10,996 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Le Mars, IA | 10,640 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Harrisburg, SD | 8,519 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Sioux Center, IA | 8,454 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Cherokee, IA | 5,154 | 82 | 0.9x |
