Sidney is a small town of 6,257 in Montana, with a median household income of $56,696
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sidney stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sidney is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sidney 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: 93.3
Sidney's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sidney costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sidney, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$251,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$836
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,696
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sidney's violent crime rate is 464.3 per 100,000 residents
— 22% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
464.3 /100k
Property Crime
696.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sidney is served primarily by Sidney Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sidney, MT
National Avg
School District
Sidney Elem
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sidney sees average highs of 27.2°F in January
and 86.6°F in July,
with 15.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.4 inches of snow per year.
Sidney's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sidney roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $251,700 and median rent is $836/month.
Sidney's violent crime rate is 464.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 696.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sidney are operated by Sidney Elem.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sidney, MT has a population of 6,257, a median household income of $56,696, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
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.
Sidney averages 27.2°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.5 inches
with about 30.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sidney, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59270.
The population of Sidney, Montana is 6,257 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sidney: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $251,700, median household income $56,696, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sidney side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
