House in Sioux Center, IA 2005, 2005
Sioux Center’s story
133 years in pictures
Census counts: 810 in 1900, 8,229 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1964 on.
- 1893Sioux Center is settled
Photo: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
8,864
2025 Census estimate · +7.7% since 2020
Typical home
$349K
+2.9% in a year
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
30.0
years
Jobs based here
6,230
A job hub
TownGrade
A
#29 of 140 in IA
Is Sioux Center a good place to live?
Sioux Center's standout: it reports less crime per resident than 95% of U.S. towns. Overall it grades A, ranked 29th of 140 in Iowa. The median household earns $93K and residents are healthier than 80% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its weakest subject is schools: its public schools trail 79% of Iowa towns on state tests and graduation. 50% of working residents work locally in Sioux Center, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Only 18 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on hazard risk. Sioux Center is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 85% of U.S. towns.
What makes Sioux Center stand out
Where Sioux Center beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sioux Center0.1
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
96% less violent crime than IA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 85% of U.S. towns
4.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA−
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
A growing town
Sioux Center has grown 26% since 2010
7,048 counted in 2010 and 8,229 in 2020; an estimated 8,864 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 7.7% since 2020, after 16.8% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Sioux Center grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Sioux Center is from typical.
SafetyA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.5 of 20; 1.5% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listA−Open →HealthSioux Center Health 0.7 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsC−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 2% conserved landBOpen →HistoryCOpen →Civic life4.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 30.0; 42% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sioux Center: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sioux Center, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Sioux CenterEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSioux Center Municipal Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 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 hereSioux County AuditorSioux County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5125051250 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 Sioux Center.
Sioux Center draws workers from Hull and beyond and sees little violent crime.
SafetyA+
Violent crime in Sioux Center is lower than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 residents.
Of the 115 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower violent crime rate than Sioux Center. The property crime rate in Sioux Center is 4.9 per 1,000 residents.
95%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Sioux Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.1 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.9 per 1,000 residents | 7.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sioux Center0.1
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sioux Center4.9
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
95th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
99th
percentile among IA towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
43
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC−
Sioux Center’s grade for schools is a C−
Its public schools are run by the Sioux Center Community School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Sioux Center High School, with 518 students.
21%of IA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsey Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–3 | Grades K–3 | 483 | B− |
| Sioux Center High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 518 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
A smaller share of residents in Sioux Center live below the poverty line than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
6,230 jobs are based in Sioux Center, 1.6 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 11.7 minutes, against 19.8 across Iowa.
2.2% of Sioux Center residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Sioux Center has added 1,562 jobs, to 6,230 in 2023. Sioux Center’s average trip to work is 12 minutes.
50%work in town
| Sioux Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 12% | 8.5% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Sioux Center50%
Orange City6%
Sioux City4%
Hull4%
Rock Valley4%
3 mi
median commute distance
6,230
jobs based in Sioux Center
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 85% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B−
Sioux Center’s typical home value is about $349K
The typical Sioux Center home is worth about $349,000, up 2.9% in a year, 47% above the Iowa typical home.
$349KZillow home value
Typical home value
Sioux Center$349K
Iowa$237K
+2.9%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthA−
Sioux Center’s grade for health is an A−
27% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Sioux Center. Sioux Center beats the Iowa average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 22% of adults binge drink in Sioux Center.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Sioux Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.5% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
10 better19 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Sioux Center | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 20.2% | 27% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 8.5% | 11.2% |
| More uninsured adults | 9.5% | 7.3% |
Sioux Center Health
0.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
81st
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Sioux Center faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by tornadoes
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 80% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Sioux Center since 2010.
20risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2010
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Sioux Center, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Sioux Center has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 8° and about 35 inches of snow falls in a winter.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–29°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall37–60°
Oct 3
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
#73for trails in IA
| Sioux Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.4% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
2.4%
conserved · 104 of 4,269 acres
1.8 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Children's Park | — | 18 |
| 2. Heritage Village | — | 12 |
| 3. Central Park | 0.1 mi | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sioux Center
18pages on Sioux Center
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 79% of IA districts · 5 schoolsSafetyA+0.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than IA on 10 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$349K typical home · up 2.9% in a yearWork & commuteA$93K median household income · 6,230 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities · tornadoes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Sioux Center
Dordt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux CenterIn town$37,050 tuitionNorthwestern CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Orange City7.8 mi$36,710 tuition
College town 15 of every 100 Sioux Center residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
College town
15% of Sioux Center is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
About Sioux Center
City in Iowa, United States
Sioux Center is a city in Sioux County, Iowa. The population was 8,229 at the time of the 2020 census. Sioux Center is notable for its Dutch heritage, agribusiness, and as the location of Dordt University.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,463 ft
- ZIP code
- 51250
- Area code
- 712
Questions about Sioux Center
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sioux Center, IA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Sioux Center grades A overall, better than 90% of U.S. towns and #29 of 140 in Iowa. It grades A− for health, A+ for safety and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sioux Center, IA expensive?
That is 4 years of the area's median household income ($86,098 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.