The Town FilesSidney, Ohio
City in Shelby County · population 20,589 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,900
- Household income
- $60,668
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.7
Sidney is a city of 20,589 people in Shelby County, Ohio. The median home is worth $169,900, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 80% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 80% of Ohio towns.
How Sidney ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sidney is worth $169,900, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $60,668, which is more affordable than 42% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sidney | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $869 | $914 |
| Median household income | $60,668 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sidney
| People | Sidney | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Sidney
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.3 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 74 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 26, 2014.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 26,643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,089 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Sidney itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Sidney
8 public schools with 3,573 students, about 19.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Middle School | 5-8 | 819 | 17.8 |
| Sidney High School | 9-12 | 810 | 17.6 |
| Northwood Intermediate School | 3-4 | 440 | 18.3 |
| Longfellow Primary School | K-2 | 334 | 20.9 |
| Emerson Primary School | K-2 | 332 | 19.5 |
| Fairlawn High School | 6-12 | 293 | 16.3 |
| Fairlawn Elementary School | PK-5 | 276 | 25.1 |
| Whittier Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 269 | 29.9 |
Towns near Sidney
- Piqua, OH10.6 mi · 20,354 people · home $138,600
- Minster, OH13.3 mi · 3,046 people · home $284,700
- New Bremen, OH15.0 mi · 3,034 people · home $234,600
- Covington, OH15.4 mi · 2,548 people · home $175,400
- Versailles, OH17.3 mi · 2,692 people · home $208,200
- Troy, OH17.4 mi · 26,305 people · home $217,400
- Wapakoneta, OH19.1 mi · 9,957 people · home $158,400
- St. Marys, OH21.4 mi · 8,397 people · home $148,500
Sidney questions
Is Sidney, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sidney scores better for retirees than 15% of Ohio towns and quieter than 17%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Sidney?
The median owner-occupied home in Sidney is valued at $169,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,668, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Sidney?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 16.3 inches of snow.
Does Sidney get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sidney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)