What are the schools like in Sidney, NY?

Sidney is served primarily by SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Sidney?

The median household income in Sidney, NY is $56,667 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.2%.

What is the weather like in Sidney, NY?

Sidney has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 79.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Sidney, NY affordable or expensive?

Sidney's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sidney is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $98,200 and the median rent is $672 per month.

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

Sidney has a violent crime rate of 27.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 240.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sidney, NY a Good Place to Live?

Sidney is a small town of 3,750 in New York, with a median household income of $56,667 and a 11.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Sidney 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 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: 91.8

Sidney's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sidney costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sidney, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$98,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$672	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,667	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sidney's violent crime rate is 27.2 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

27.2 /100k

Property Crime

240.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sidney is served primarily by SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sidney, NY	National Avg
School District	SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sidney sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 44.4 inches of annual precipitation and 79.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sidney, NY
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	44.4"
Annual Snowfall	79.4"

Demographics

Metric	Sidney, NY	National Avg
Population	3,750	—
Median Age	43.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bainbridge, NY 4 mi Unadilla, NY 4 mi Guilford, NY 8 mi Afton, NY 8 mi Wells Bridge, NY 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Sidney

Sidney, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

13838

Sidney vs Other Cities

Sidney, NY vs Bainbridge, NY Sidney, NY vs Unadilla, NY Sidney, NY vs Guilford, NY Sidney, NY vs Afton, NY Sidney, NY vs Wells Bridge, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sidney, NY affordable or expensive?

Sidney's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sidney roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $98,200 and median rent is $672/month.

What is the crime rate in Sidney, NY?

Sidney's violent crime rate is 27.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 240.2 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 CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sidney, NY a good place to live?

Sidney, NY has a population of 3,750, a median household income of $56,667, and an unemployment rate of 11.2%. 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 31.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.4 inches with about 79.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sidney?

Sidney, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 13838.

What is the population of Sidney?

The population of Sidney, New York is 3,750 with a median age of 43.8. 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 92 (100 = US average), median home $98,200, median household income $56,667, crime index 9 (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.