The Town FilesSioux City, Iowa
City in Woodbury County · population 85,797 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $173,600
- Household income
- $68,906
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.9
Sioux City is a city of 85,797 people in Woodbury County, Iowa. The median home is worth $173,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 97% of Iowa towns, better transit than 97% of Iowa towns.
How Sioux City 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 Sioux City is worth $173,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $68,906, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $976 a month. 65.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sioux City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $976 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,906 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Sioux City
| People | Sioux City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Sioux City
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 30.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sioux City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 132 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Woodbury County since 1996
Woodbury County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4870: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 Woodbury County
Woodbury County had 51,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,684 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Sioux City itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Sioux City
21 public schools with 14,357 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High School | 9-12 | 1,660 | 22.1 |
| East High School | 9-12 | 1,511 | 19.9 |
| West High School | 9-12 | 1,308 | 16.0 |
| North Middle School | 6-8 | 1,168 | 16.7 |
| East Middle School | 6-8 | 1,036 | 14.4 |
| West Middle School | 6-8 | 854 | 13.6 |
| Morningside Elementary | PK-5 | 691 | 15.0 |
| Spalding Park Elementary | PK-5 | 663 | 14.7 |
| Perry Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 632 | 17.1 |
| Liberty Elementary School | PK-5 | 632 | 13.2 |
| Irving Elementary School | K-5 | 616 | 12.6 |
| Leeds Elementary School | PK-5 | 609 | 13.5 |
Towns near Sioux City
- South Sioux City, NE2.6 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Dakota Dunes, SD4.8 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- North Sioux City, SD6.0 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- Sergeant Bluff, IA7.0 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- Le Mars, IA22.6 mi · 10,571 people · home $219,200
Sioux City questions
Is Sioux City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sioux City scores better for retirees than 0% of Iowa towns and quieter than 3%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Sioux City?
The median owner-occupied home in Sioux City is valued at $173,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,906, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $976 a month.
What is the weather like in Sioux City?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Sioux City get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sioux City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)