Sioux City, IA
Census place 1973335 · pop 86,101
Birthplace of Esther 'Eppie' Lederer, who wrote the syndicated Ann Landers advice column, and her twin sister 'Dear Abby.'
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
3350 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
553 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
39.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
30.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.54% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
12.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
22.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$68,906 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$173,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,223/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
18 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
40/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Sioux City: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Sioux City, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Sioux City scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is property crime rate. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Sioux City, IA?
- Sioux City reports 553 violent crimes per 100k and 3350 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Sioux City, IA expensive to live in?
- Sioux City has a median home value of $173,600 and typical rent around $1,223/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Sioux City, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (3350/100k) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Sioux City, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (40/100) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Birthplace of Esther 'Eppie' Lederer, who wrote the syndicated Ann Landers advice column, and her twin sister 'Dear Abby.'
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.