What are the schools like in Sibley, IA?

Sibley is served primarily by Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Sibley?

The median household income in Sibley, IA is $60,417 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Sibley, IA?

Sibley has an average high temperature of 23.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.5 inches.

Sibley, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sibley, IA affordable or expensive?

Sibley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sibley is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $115,500 and the median rent is $727 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sibley, IA?

Sibley has a violent crime rate of 83.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 251.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sibley, IA a Good Place to Live?

Sibley is a small town of 2,830 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,417 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Sibley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sibley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sibley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.4

Sibley's overall cost of living index is 88.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sibley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sibley, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$115,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$727	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,417	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sibley's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

83.9 /100k

Property Crime

251.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sibley is served primarily by Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sibley, IA	National Avg
School District	Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sibley sees average highs of 23.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 30.2 inches of annual precipitation and 41.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sibley, IA
Average High — January	23.1°F
Average High — July	82.1°F
Annual Precipitation	30.2"
Annual Snowfall	41.5"

Demographics

Metric	Sibley, IA	National Avg
Population	2,830	—
Median Age	37.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	22.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ashton, IA 7 mi Little Rock, IA 8 mi Bigelow, MN 8 mi Ocheyedan, IA 10 mi Melvin, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Sibley

Sibley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51249

Sibley vs Other Cities

Sibley, IA vs Ashton, IA Sibley, IA vs Little Rock, IA Sibley, IA vs Bigelow, MN Sibley, IA vs Ocheyedan, IA Sibley, IA vs Melvin, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sibley, IA affordable or expensive?

Sibley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sibley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $115,500 and median rent is $727/month.

What is the crime rate in Sibley, IA?

Sibley's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 251.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sibley?

Public schools in Sibley are operated by Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sibley, IA a good place to live?

Sibley, IA has a population of 2,830, a median household income of $60,417, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sibley?

Sibley averages 23.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.2 inches with about 41.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sibley?

Sibley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51249.

What is the population of Sibley?

The population of Sibley, Iowa is 2,830 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sibley?

Key numbers for living in Sibley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,500, median household income $60,417, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sibley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.