The Town FilesSioux Rapids, Iowa
City in Buena Vista County · population 748 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,700
- Household income
- $60,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 50.5
Sioux Rapids is a city of 748 people in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The median home is worth $88,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 82% of Iowa towns, quieter than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Sioux Rapids ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sioux Rapids is worth $88,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $60,000, which is more affordable than 93% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $637 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sioux Rapids | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $637 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sioux Rapids
| People | Sioux Rapids | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Sioux Rapids
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sioux Rapids since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 11, 2004 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 28, 1986.
Severe weather in Buena Vista County since 1996
Buena Vista County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County had 10,683 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,893 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Sioux Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Sioux Rapids
3 public schools with 639 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Central High School | 9-12 | 260 | 13.7 |
| Sioux Central Elementary School | PK-5 | 234 | 10.6 |
| Sioux Central Middle School | 6-8 | 145 | 24.2 |
Towns near Sioux Rapids
- Albert City, IA12.6 mi · 677 people · home $96,500
- Laurens, IA15.5 mi · 1,264 people · home $60,300
- Alta, IA17.1 mi · 2,087 people · home $146,600
- Storm Lake, IA17.4 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
- Spencer, IA17.6 mi · 11,325 people · home $184,800
- Sutherland, IA18.4 mi · 629 people · home $101,200
- Lakeside, IA19.0 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
- Aurelia, IA19.1 mi · 968 people · home $139,900
Sioux Rapids questions
Is Sioux Rapids, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sioux Rapids scores better for retirees than 82% of Iowa towns and quieter than 78%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in Sioux Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Sioux Rapids is valued at $88,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,000, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $637 a month.
What is the weather like in Sioux Rapids?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 35.2 inches of snow.
Does Sioux Rapids get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sioux Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 11, 2004. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)