The Town FilesSidney, New York
Town in Delaware County · population 5,536 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,100
- Household income
- $52,347
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.0
Sidney is a town of 5,536 people in Delaware County, New York. The median home is worth $122,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 73% of New York towns, hipper than 72% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of New York towns.
How Sidney ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sidney is worth $122,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $52,347, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $898 a month. 55.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sidney | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $898 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $52,347 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.8% | — |
Who lives in Sidney
| People | Sidney | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Sidney
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 26, 2011 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 23, 1956.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 14,276 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,992 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Sidney itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Towns near Sidney
- Unadilla, NY5.1 mi · 4,116 people · home $126,100
- Sidney, NY6.2 mi · 3,697 people · home $120,700
- Bainbridge, NY10.3 mi · 3,060 people · home $150,500
- Guilford, NY11.1 mi · 2,741 people · home $121,400
- Otego, NY11.2 mi · 2,756 people · home $195,500
- Walton, NY12.0 mi · 5,270 people · home $151,100
- Walton, NY12.0 mi · 2,885 people · home $119,400
- Oneonta, NY12.2 mi · 5,065 people · home $187,100
Sidney questions
Is Sidney, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sidney scores better for retirees than 30% of New York towns and quieter than 37%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Sidney?
The median owner-occupied home in Sidney is valued at $122,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,347, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $898 a month.
What is the weather like in Sidney?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 79.4 inches of snow.
Does Sidney get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 26, 2011. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)