Best Life Index › States › Iowa › Cities › Sioux City

Iowa city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Sioux City?

What it costs to live in Sioux City, and how it compares with other Iowa cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

48

18th best value in Iowa

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Iowa cities.

Overall livability

30

26th overall in Iowa

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Sioux City is home to about 85,081 people. A typical home runs $130,500 and a household earns around $59,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.2. Among Iowa's largest cities, it ranks 18th for value and 26th overall.

Sioux City at a glance

Median home price

$130,500

8th in IA of 30

Median rent

$836/mo

Median household income

$59,400

Home price to income

2.2x

Unemployment

4.5%

17th in IA of 30

School rating

4/10

23rd in IA of 30

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IA of 30

Walk score

9/100

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‹ See all top Iowa cities ranked  ยท  Iowa state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Iowa only. Updated 2026.