Sheldon, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 220, Sheldon's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Sheldon is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Rusk County. The total population is 220. It ranks as the 681st most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sheldon is 50.8 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 15.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sheldon is $37,315. This is 52% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 10.0%. This is 208% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $118,400. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sheldon has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.4%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

7.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 72.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sheldon, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.