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Living in
Sidney.
About
Life in Sidney
This county seat of about 20,500 people sits just 36 miles north of Dayton in a region built on serious manufacturing roots, especially automotive work. Copeland employs over 1,700 locals, and the nearby Honda engine plant in Anna brings thousands more jobs to the area—so if you're job-hunting in manufacturing or service sectors, there's genuine opportunity here with a solid 4.2% unemployment rate. Your paycheck will likely go further than you'd expect: median household income hovers around $60,668, median rent is $869 a month, and homes sell for around $169,900, making it genuinely affordable compared to most Ohio metros.
Sidney at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from Venezuela
Who lives in Sidney: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sidney, the largest foreign-born group is from Venezuela (29.2%), and 1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.0%
of households
Married Couples
41.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 16% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Sidney
In Sidney, rent runs 16% below the OH average, and home values are 21% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,661
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $216,710 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Sidney
Unemployment in Shelby County, which includes Sidney, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Sidney: Shelby County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Shelby County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sidney Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.2 min avg
How Sidney residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sidney, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
Small hub638k passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 140 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sidney is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
314.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,596.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sidney Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
56.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Shelby County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Shelby County, which includes Sidney, the most common type is winter weather, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $61,500 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Winter Weather | $36,200 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,500 |
| 2021 | 10 | Winter Weather | $12,000 |
| 2020 | 20 | Winter Weather | $56,750 |
| 2019 | 22 | Winter Weather | $115,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Winter Weather | $19,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Shelby County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Miami County, OH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 17 miles from Sidney) is typically good — 202 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
202
per year
Moderate Days
37
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Miami County, OH (17 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sidney has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
15.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.89" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.31" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 3.17" |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 4.08" |
| May | 73°F | 49°F | 4.08" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 4.70" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.57" |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.76" |
| Sep | 78°F | 53°F | 3.11" |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 2.89" |
| Nov | 51°F | 32°F | 3.17" |
| Dec | 40°F | 24°F | 2.92" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sidney
Sidney has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Wilson Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education19.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sidney
Sidney's student/teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sidney
Sidney has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
43 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
83 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sidney
Shelby County Libraries - Amos Memorial
230 E. North St., Sidney
Cities Near Sidney
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sidney?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sidney FAQ
Is Sidney, Ohio affordable?⌄
Sidney's median rent is $869/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,668/year. Median home value is $169,900.
Is Sidney, Ohio safe?⌄
Sidney's violent crime rate was 315 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1597 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sidney, Ohio?⌄
Shelby County, which includes Sidney, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sidney, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Sidney is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $869/month and median household income is $60,668/year. The median home value is $169,900. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sidney, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Sidney is 17 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