The Town FilesSidney, Nebraska
City in Cheyenne County · population 6,410 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,400
- Household income
- $54,734
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 41.9
Sidney is a city of 6,410 people in Cheyenne County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $139,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks hipper than 92% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 86% of Nebraska towns.
How Sidney ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sidney is worth $139,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $54,734, which is more affordable than 36% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sidney | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $819 | $818 |
| Median household income | $54,734 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Sidney
| People | Sidney | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Sidney
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 15.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1985 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 192 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Cheyenne County since 1996
Cheyenne County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4786: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Cheyenne County
Cheyenne County had 3,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,970 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Sidney itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Sidney
6 public schools with 1,222 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 334 | 13.9 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-K | 205 | 22.8 |
| SOUTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1-2 | 181 | 13.9 |
| SIDNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 179 | 14.9 |
| WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 162 | 12.5 |
| NORTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-4 | 161 | 14.6 |
Sidney questions
Is Sidney, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sidney scores better for retirees than 35% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 20%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Sidney?
The median owner-occupied home in Sidney is valued at $139,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,734, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Sidney?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.8 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Sidney get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1985. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)