The Town FilesNorth Sioux City, South Dakota
City in Union County · population 3,042 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,800
- Household income
- $71,908
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 36.6
North Sioux City is a city of 3,042 people in Union County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $269,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 94% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 88% of South Dakota towns.
How North Sioux City ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Sioux City is worth $269,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $71,908, which is more affordable than 14% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,098 a month. 49.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Sioux City | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,098 | $785 |
| Median household income | $71,908 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Sioux City
| People | North Sioux City | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 14.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in North 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 35.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Sioux City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 4, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 9,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,276 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in North Sioux City itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in North Sioux City
4 public schools with 1,386 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Valley High School - 01 | 9-12 | 459 | 18.4 |
| Dakota Valley Elementary - 02 | K-3 | 380 | 12.3 |
| Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 341 | 20.1 |
| Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 | 4-5 | 206 | 13.7 |
Towns near North Sioux City
- Dakota Dunes, SD3.2 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- Sioux City, IA6.0 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- South Sioux City, NE6.6 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Sergeant Bluff, IA12.0 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- Le Mars, IA23.6 mi · 10,571 people · home $219,200
- Vermillion, SD27.7 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
North Sioux City questions
Is North Sioux City, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Sioux City scores better for retirees than 63% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 24%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in North Sioux City?
The median owner-occupied home in North Sioux City is valued at $269,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,908, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,098 a month.
What is the weather like in North 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 35.3 inches of snow.
Does North Sioux City get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Sioux City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- 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)