Sergeant Bluff, IA, 2017
Sergeant Bluff’s story
172 years in pictures
Census counts: 167 in 1880, 5,015 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
- 1854Sergeant Bluff is settled
Sergeant BluffIA
A town of 5,324, settled in 1854. Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
Trash day: look up yours1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
5,324
2025 Census estimate · +6.2% since 2020
Typical home
$362K
+3.9% in a year
Household income
$123K
median
Median age
36.9
years
Jobs based here
1,722
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#18 of 140 in IA
Is Sergeant Bluff a good place to live?
Few places in the country grade higher. Sergeant Bluff earns an A+, 18th among Iowa's 140 graded towns. Its schools rank ahead of 89% of Iowa towns, the median household earns $123K, and CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 82% of the country. Its lowest mark, a C+, is in cost of living. Only 23 of Iowa’s 276 towns score lower on cost of living. Sergeant Bluff is more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns. Only 18 of Iowa’s 271 towns score lower on civic life.
What makes Sergeant Bluff stand out
Where Sergeant Bluff beats most towns.
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary School | 3–5 | 383 |
| Sergeant Bluff-Luton Primary School | PK–2 | 349 |
| Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle School | 6–8 | 400 |
SchoolsA
#14 of the 140 Iowa towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
WalkabilityB+
More walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
Sergeant Bluff has grown 26% since 2010
4,227 counted in 2010 and 5,015 in 2020; an estimated 5,324 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 6.2% since 2020, after 18.6% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Sergeant Bluff grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Sergeant Bluff is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →HealthMercyone Siouxland Medical Center 7.2 miles awayA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13 of 20; 0% of households have no carB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landBOpen →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life1.6 library visits per resident; 4.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 86° summer afternoons, 36″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.9–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sergeant Bluff: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sergeant Bluff, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Sergeant BluffEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSergeant Bluff Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWoodbury County AuditorWoodbury County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5105451054 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sergeant Bluff.
Sergeant Bluff sends many workers across the state line to South Sioux City, has less tooth loss than most of Iowa and has household incomes well above the Iowa norm.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in Sergeant Bluff are worth about $362K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Sergeant Bluff home is worth about $362,000, up 3.9% in a year, 53% above the Iowa typical home.
$362KZillow home value
Typical home value
Sergeant Bluff$362K
Iowa$237K
+3.9%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA
Sergeant Bluff’s grade for schools is an A
Its public schools are run by the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Sergeant Bluff-Luton Senior High School, with 552 students.
89%of IA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 400 | A |
| Sergeant Bluff-Luton Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 552 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Sergeant Bluff’s grade for health is an A−
Its widest gap with Iowa is tooth loss: 7.2% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.6% statewide. Against the 5,242 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sergeant Bluff’s, it is healthier than 55%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
22% of Sergeant Bluff adults binge drink, where Iowa’s towns sit at 20% and U.S. towns at 16%. 30% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Sergeant Bluff. Sergeant Bluff beats the Iowa average on 14 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
82%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Sergeant Bluff | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
14 better18 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Sergeant Bluff | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.2% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 12% |
Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center
7.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
83rd
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, the median household income in Sergeant Bluff is higher
22% of working residents cross a state line to work, South Sioux City among the top destinations. The average commute for its 2,425 working residents takes 13.4 minutes, against 19.8 across Iowa.
Sergeant Bluff’s median household income is $123,000, against $69,000 in Iowa’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. Sergeant Bluff’s average trip to work is 13 minutes. Jobs based in Sergeant Bluff fell to 1,722 in 2023, 236 fewer than in 2013.
13%work in town
| Sergeant Bluff | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 13 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $123,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 31% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Sergeant Bluff13%
Sioux City47%
South Sioux City6%
Le Mars2%
North Sioux City2%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,722
jobs based in Sergeant Bluff
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Tornadoes leads a low hazard risk in Sergeant Bluff
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities.
31risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingCold waves
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Sergeant Bluff
Sergeant Bluff has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Among 140 Iowa towns, just 9 have a higher July high than Sergeant Bluff.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–33°
Spring37–61°
Summer61–84°
Fall39–62°
Oct 5
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than Iowa overall
The median household earns $123,481, against $75,059 across Iowa, one input to its A− for jobs and income.
People 65 and older are 13% of residents (18% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 41% of residents (37% statewide). 28% of Sergeant Bluff residents are under 18. Sergeant Bluff has grown 6.2% since 2020, to 5,324 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
36.9median age · IA 38.6
| Sergeant Bluff | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 25% | 29% |
| Median age | 36.9 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
Sergeant BluffIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school26%
Some college21%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.3 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Sergeant Bluff | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.1% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.5% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.6% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.3% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.2% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.7% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.2% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 21% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.3% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.7% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.1% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
2.5%conserved
| Sergeant Bluff | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.5% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
2.5%
conserved · 47 of 1,889 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Baker Park | — | 18 |
| 2. Kiwanis Park | — | 5 |
| 3. Bishop Field | 0.1 mi | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sergeant Bluff
19pages on Sergeant Bluff
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Sergeant Bluff
Morningside UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux City5.3 mi$39,660 tuitionWestern Iowa Tech Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sioux City5.9 mi$5,186 in-state tuitionSt Luke's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux City8.9 mi$24,175 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Sergeant Bluff residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
87% of working residents leave Sergeant Bluff for work
Where Sergeant Bluff’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,722jobs based in Sergeant Bluff
13%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Sergeant Bluff
City in Iowa, United States
Sergeant Bluff is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,015 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,093 ft
- ZIP code
- 51054
- Area code
- 712
Sergeant Bluff’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Sergeant Bluff.
Sioux CitySergeant Bluff
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Bluff | #18 | A+ | C+ | — | A | A− |
| Sioux City | #129 | D | B | D | D | C |
Sergeant Bluff reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Sergeant Bluff with a neighbor →
Questions about Sergeant Bluff
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sergeant Bluff, IA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Sergeant Bluff grades A+ overall, better than 95% of U.S. towns and #18 of 140 in Iowa. It grades A− for health and A for schools.
Is Sergeant Bluff, IA expensive?
That is 4.8 years of the area's median household income ($75,192 across the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.