The Town FilesSheffield, Iowa
City in Franklin County · population 1,130 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,000
- Household income
- $54,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 46.2
Sheffield is a city of 1,130 people in Franklin County, Iowa. The median home is worth $151,000, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 98% of Iowa towns, hipper than 82% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Sheffield ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sheffield is worth $151,000, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $54,458, which is more affordable than 20% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sheffield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $700 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,458 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sheffield
| People | Sheffield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Sheffield
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 7.9°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 4, 1961.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 3,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,225 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Sheffield itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Sheffield
2 public schools with 371 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Fork High School | 9-12 | 196 | 12.3 |
| West Fork Middle School | 6-8 | 175 | 13.5 |
Towns near Sheffield
- Rockwell, IA6.4 mi · 1,071 people · home $163,300
- Hampton, IA10.1 mi · 4,337 people · home $99,400
- Dumont, IA15.1 mi · 634 people · home $74,800
- Rockford, IA17.3 mi · 758 people · home $94,600
- Mason City, IA17.9 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Clear Lake, IA19.0 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Nora Springs, IA20.3 mi · 1,369 people · home $134,500
- Greene, IA20.4 mi · 990 people · home $120,700
Sheffield questions
Is Sheffield, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sheffield scores better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns and quieter than 98%. 31.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Sheffield?
The median owner-occupied home in Sheffield is valued at $151,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,458, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Sheffield?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 7.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does Sheffield get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)