The Town FilesSouth Sioux City, Nebraska
City in Dakota County · population 14,043 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,700
- Household income
- $68,223
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 30.5
South Sioux City is a city of 14,043 people in Dakota County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $174,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 96% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 95% of Nebraska towns.
How South Sioux City 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 South Sioux City is worth $174,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $68,223, which is more affordable than 30% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,127 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Sioux City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,127 | $818 |
| Median household income | $68,223 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Sioux City
| People | South Sioux City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 32.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 12.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in South 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 Nebraska town: 28.6 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 South Sioux City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 3.4 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 130 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 13,726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,490 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in South Sioux City itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in South Sioux City
7 public schools with 3,564 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH SIOUX HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,172 | 16.7 |
| SOUTH SIOUX CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 760 | 12.9 |
| CARDINAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 434 | 13.2 |
| COVINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 404 | 12.6 |
| HARNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 359 | 11.2 |
| LEWIS & CLARK ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-5 | 230 | 11.0 |
| E N SWETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-PK | 205 | 18.6 |
Towns near South Sioux City
- Sioux City, IA2.6 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- Dakota Dunes, SD4.1 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- Sergeant Bluff, IA5.5 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- North Sioux City, SD6.6 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- Le Mars, IA25.2 mi · 10,571 people · home $219,200
South Sioux City questions
Is South Sioux City, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Sioux City scores better for retirees than 0% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 1%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in South Sioux City?
The median owner-occupied home in South Sioux City is valued at $174,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,223, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,127 a month.
What is the weather like in South 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 South Sioux City get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Sioux City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)