Hy1105.JPG, 2007
North Sioux City’s story
75 years in pictures
Census counts: 736 in 1960, 3,042 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1963 on.
- 1951North Sioux City is incorporated
Population
3,036
2025 Census estimate · −0.4% since 2020
Typical home
$423K
+1.3% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
36.6
years
Jobs based here
3,639
A job hub
TownGrade
B−
#24 of 35 in SD
Is North Sioux City a good place to live?
North Sioux City grades B− overall, ranked 24th of 35 in South Dakota, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Residents are healthier than 84% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and its schools outperform 82% of the state's. On the other side, FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Only 6 of South Dakota’s 85 towns score lower on history.
What makes North Sioux City stand out
Where North Sioux City beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here3,639
Residents who work1,209
Work
3 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
2 better24 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | North Sioux City | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3% | 3.5% |
HealthA−
Beats SD on 2 of 26 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Dakota Valley School District 61-8
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Dakota Valley Elementary - 02 | K–3 | 386 |
| Dakota Valley Upper Elementary - 04 | 4–5 | 179 |
| Dakota Valley Middle School - 03 | 6–8 | 345 |
SchoolsA−
#5 of the 35 South Dakota towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
A growing town
North Sioux City has grown 20% since 2010
2,530 counted in 2010 and 3,042 in 2020; an estimated 3,036 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 20.2% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How North Sioux City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Dakota), ordered by how far North Sioux City is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthSt. Lukes Regional Medical Center 4.7 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →SafetyC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Jobs & income$72K median household incomeC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8 of 20; 5.3% of households have no car; 0.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 0% conserved landC−Open →HistoryIncorporated 1951DOpen →Civic life5.1 library visits per resident; 1.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to North Sioux City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in North Sioux City, and how to reach them.
PowerUnion County Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Sioux City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpCity DumpsterDrop-offTown site
Register to voteIn personSouth Dakota has no online registration; you can register in person until 15 days before Election Day or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereUnion County AuditorUnion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code5704957049 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in North Sioux City.
North Sioux City draws workers from Sioux City and beyond and has a shorter frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of South Dakota.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in five working residents works right in North Sioux City
3,639 jobs are based in North Sioux City, 3 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 41% of working residents cross a state line to work, Sioux City among the top destinations.
The top destinations are Sioux City (18%), Dakota Dunes (11%) and Big Sioux Township (10%). Jobs based in North Sioux City grew to 3,639 in 2023, 737 more than in 2013. Its typical journey to work is 14 minutes. The share of working residents in North Sioux City who work locally is 22%, against 31% in South Dakota’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns.
22%work in town
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 22% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In North Sioux City22%
Sioux City18%
Dakota Dunes11%
Big Sioux Township10%
Sioux Falls9%
6 mi
median commute distance
3,639
jobs based in North Sioux City
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsA−
North Sioux City’s grade for schools is an A−
Two of its 4 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. The largest public high school is Dakota Valley High School - 01, with 431 students. The public schools here belong to the Dakota Valley School District 61-8.
82%of SD districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Valley Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades K–3 | Grades K–3 | 386 | A |
| Dakota Valley High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 431 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
North Sioux City’s grade for health is an A−
The share of adults in North Sioux City who report frequent physical distress is 11%, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 12% and U.S. towns at 14%. Two figures for adults locally: 32% have obesity, 15% report frequent mental distress.
84%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 76% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 30% | 36% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
2 better24 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | North Sioux City | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3% | 3.5% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.9% | 6.8% |
St. Lukes Regional Medical Center
4.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
72nd
percentile among SD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Natural hazards: very high risk in North Sioux City, mostly inland flooding
Only 3 of the 35 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher FEMA hazard score than North Sioux City. FEMA puts 58% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 20% to tornadoes. Since 2010, North Sioux City has seen 12 flood insurance claims paid out.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoes
12
paid flood claims since 2010
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C+
The typical home in North Sioux City: about $423K
50% of North Sioux City households are owner-occupiers. Home values are up 1.3% over the year to September 2026. Its median rent stands at $1,098 a month.
$423KZillow home value
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 50% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,098 a month | $958 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
North Sioux City$423K
South Dakota$318K
+1.3%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Young adults are more common in North Sioux City than in South Dakota
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in North Sioux City. Adults 18 to 34 are nearly a third of residents (22% statewide); children under 18 are 16% of residents (24% statewide). Its median age comes in at 36.6 years.
36.6median age · SD 38
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 16% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 36.6 years | 39.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 34% | 29% |
North Sioux CitySouth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school34%
Some college17%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s13%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.2 points. Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| North Sioux City | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.8% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 19.7% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8.1% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.2% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.6% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.5% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.1% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.4% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.2% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.5% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.9% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.9% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,000, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In North Sioux City, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
The Sioux City Gateway Ap weather station, 12 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 159 days: shorter than most of the country, but longer than 92% of South Dakota places with climate records. January nights average 10.2°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 82% of South Dakota places with climate records; July afternoons average 85.6°.
In North Sioux City, the January low is 10°F. About 36 inches of snow falls in a winter.
36″snow a winter
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 10°F | 9°F | 22°F |
| July high | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–32°
Spring37–60°
Summer61–84°
Fall38–62°
Oct 5
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyC+
North Sioux City reports more crime per resident than 64% of U.S. towns
The property offense rate for North Sioux City comes to 18.3 per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate for North Sioux City comes to 1.6 per 1,000 residents.
36%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 18.3 per 1,000 residents | 9.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.6 per 1,000 residents | 2 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
North Sioux City1.6
South Dakota3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
North Sioux City18.3
South Dakota14.3
U.S.15.5
36th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
45th
percentile among SD towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
56
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsC−
Conserved land covers 0.2% of North Sioux City
Among 32 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a lower share of conserved land than North Sioux City. Trails run 0.2 miles in 1 park or preserve. For North Sioux City, the trail network density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
0.2%conserved
| North Sioux City | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.2% | 3.3% | 4.3% |
0.2%
conserved · 4 of 2,201 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Sioux City
19pages on North Sioux City
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 82% of SD districts · 4 schoolsSafetyC+1.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than SD on 2 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$423K typical home · up 1.3% in a yearWork & commuteC+$72K median household income · 3,639 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of North Sioux City
Briar Cliff UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux City, IA3.4 mi$36,956 tuitionSt Luke's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux City, IA4.7 mi$24,175 tuitionWestern Iowa Tech Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sioux City, IA8.3 mi$5,186 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 North Sioux City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Dakota.
A job hub
Every workday, about 3,376 people come to North Sioux City for work
Where North Sioux City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,639jobs based in North Sioux City
22%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About North Sioux City
City in South Dakota, United States
North Sioux City is a city in Union County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,042 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Sioux City metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,109 ft
- ZIP code
- 57049
- Area code
- 605
North Sioux City’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with North Sioux City.
Big Sioux TownshipSioux CityDakota DunesNorth Sioux City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | SD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Sioux City | #24 | B− | C+ | C+ | A− | A− |
| Big Sioux Township | #11 | B+ | C− | — | A− | A |
| Dakota Dunes | #10 | A− | C− | — | A− | A |
Big Sioux Township and Dakota Dunes report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare North Sioux City with a neighbor →
Questions about North Sioux City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North Sioux City, SD a good place to live?
North Sioux City grades B− overall, better than 49% of U.S. towns and #24 of 35 in South Dakota. It grades A− for health, C+ for safety and A− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is North Sioux City, SD expensive?
That is 5.6 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+.