What are the schools like in Sidney, NE?

Sidney is served primarily by SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Sidney?

The median household income in Sidney, NE is $49,866 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Sidney, NE?

Sidney has an average high temperature of 41.6°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Sidney, NE affordable or expensive?

Sidney's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sidney is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $121,500 and the median rent is $852 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sidney, NE?

Sidney has a violent crime rate of 124.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1488.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sidney, NE a Good Place to Live?

Sidney is a small town of 6,407 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $49,866 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 89.9

Sidney's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sidney costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sidney, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$121,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$852	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,866	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sidney's violent crime rate is 124.1 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

124.1 /100k

Property Crime

1488.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sidney is served primarily by SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sidney, NE	National Avg
School District	SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sidney sees average highs of 41.6°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 17.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sidney, NE
Average High — January	41.6°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	17.4"
Annual Snowfall	28.8"

Demographics

Metric	Sidney, NE	National Avg
Population	6,407	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.7%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lorenzo, NE 8 mi Sunol, NE 11 mi Gurley, NE 13 mi Peetz, CO 14 mi Lodgepole, NE 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Sidney

Sidney, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

69162

Sidney vs Other Cities

Sidney, NE vs Lorenzo, NE Sidney, NE vs Sunol, NE Sidney, NE vs Gurley, NE Sidney, NE vs Peetz, CO Sidney, NE vs Lodgepole, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sidney, NE affordable or expensive?

Sidney's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sidney roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $121,500 and median rent is $852/month.

What is the crime rate in Sidney, NE?

Sidney's violent crime rate is 124.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1488.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sidney?

Public schools in Sidney are operated by SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sidney, NE a good place to live?

Sidney, NE has a population of 6,407, a median household income of $49,866, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. 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 Sidney?

Sidney averages 41.6°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.4 inches with about 28.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sidney?

Sidney, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69162.

What is the population of Sidney?

The population of Sidney, Nebraska is 6,407 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sidney?

Key numbers for living in Sidney: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $121,500, median household income $49,866, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.