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Living in
Sioux City.
About
Life in Sioux City
Living in Sioux City means affordable housing and low unemployment—homes average around $174,000 and jobs are relatively easy to find with a 3.7% unemployment rate. The median household income sits at about $69,000, and you'll spend roughly $976 monthly on rent if you're not buying. Your commute is manageable at an average of 17 minutes.
Sioux City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Foreign-Born
12.1%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sioux City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sioux City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (39.5%), and 16.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.0%
of households
Married Couples
40.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Sioux City
In Sioux City, home values are 17% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,668
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $200,738 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Sioux City
Unemployment in Sioux City is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Sioux City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.5 min avg
How Sioux City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sioux City, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 86 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 50% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sioux City runs 50% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
494.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,814.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sioux City Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 38 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Woodbury County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Woodbury County, which includes Sioux City, the most common type is winter weather, with 38 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 33 | Hail | $4.1M |
| 2023 | 34 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 19 | Drought | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 24 | Winter Weather | $332,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Flood | $6.8M |
| 2018 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Woodbury County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Woodbury County, which includes Sioux City, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Woodbury County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sioux City has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.3"
Annual Snowfall
36.0"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
160
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 9°F | 0.66" |
| Feb | 35°F | 13°F | 0.88" |
| Mar | 47°F | 24°F | 1.62" |
| Apr | 61°F | 35°F | 3.07" |
| May | 72°F | 47°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 4.62" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.36" |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.93" |
| Sep | 77°F | 51°F | 2.99" |
| Oct | 64°F | 37°F | 2.38" |
| Nov | 47°F | 24°F | 1.36" |
| Dec | 34°F | 14°F | 0.97" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sioux City
Sioux City has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
St Lukes Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Dunes Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.5 mi away · Dakota Dunes
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sioux City
Sioux City's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Sioux City
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,163 students · in-state tuition $41,190 · 59% graduate · median earnings $58,902 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 624 students · in-state tuition $39,064 · 51% graduate · median earnings $59,643 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 167 students · in-state tuition $24,460 · 70% graduate · median earnings $64,099 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Missouri National Recreational River, 64 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sioux City
Sioux City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Missouri National Recreational River (64 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Missouri National Recreational River
National Recreational River
64 mi awayLewis & Clark National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sioux City
Sioux City Public Library
529 Pierce St, Sioux City
Morningside Branch Library
4005 Morningside Ave, Sioux City
Perry Creek Branch Library
2912 Hamilton Lower B, Sioux City
Cities Near Sioux City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sioux City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sioux City FAQ
Is Sioux City, Iowa affordable?⌄
Sioux City's median rent is $976/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,906/year. Median home value is $173,600.
Is Sioux City, Iowa safe?⌄
Sioux City's violent crime rate was 495 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2814 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sioux City, Iowa?⌄
Sioux City has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sioux City, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Sioux City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $976/month and median household income is $68,906/year. The median home value is $173,600. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sioux City, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Sioux City is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from