North Sioux City is a bedroom community with lakeside homes
North Sioux City straddles Interstate 29, which takes drivers south toward the center of Sioux City, roughly 10 miles away. Slightly west of the interstate, homes sit around McCook Lake, which forms a crook just north of the Missouri River. “It’s a bedroom community,” says Chere Rosa de Sharon, a real estate agent with HomeSmart Adventure Realty, who has about five years of experience in the area. “You don’t have to go into the city for entertainment. There are facilities right under your nose, but most people will go into Sioux City.”
Houses in North Sioux City rarely come on the market
Leaves from mature, expansive trees float to the wide sidewalks and front lawns of North Sioux City every autumn. Many homes surround the shore of McCook Lake, with private docks jutting into the water. “The houses on McCook Lake range from older homes that have been there for many years to million-dollar mansions,” Rosa de Sharon says. Homes in the area rarely come on the market. “The lake area is so small, they are highly sought-after and rarely available,” she says. According to a Homes.com calculation, which uses a combination of estimate data, the average home value in the area was around $515,000 in mid-2025. Some properties belong to homeowners associations with monthly fees that can go up to $250.
Homes around the lake area may also be at a heightened risk of flooding during heavy rain.
McCook Lake, Stone State Park and various neighborhood green spaces
On the west side of town, boat ramps, kayaks, paddle boats, personal kayak storage and a private beach are available to Izaak Walton League of America members at McCook Lake. There’s also a public boat ramp so non-members can enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and water skiing on the lake as well, though many waterfront homeowners have docks in their backyards. Community parks dot the residential areas of North Sioux City. Picnic benches sit under a shelter next to a basketball court and a playground in Ferrari Park, on the west side of the community. Two brightly colored, blue-and-green play sets, a swing set and a basketball court make up Stevens Park, once known as City Park.
Stone State Park is about 4 miles from North Sioux City, though it’s part of the Loess Hills across the state border in Iowa. More than 14 miles of trail — including 6 miles of mountain biking routes and 6 miles of pathways for equestrians, cross-country skiers and snowmobiles — carve through the state wildlife sanctuary.
Dakota Valley High School students outperform state testing averages
Children in North Sioux City may start their educational journeys at Dakota Valley Elementary School before moving forward to Dakota Valley Upper Elementary/Middle School. They may then conclude their secondary studies at Dakota Valley High School, where students outperform state testing averages across science, mathematics and English language arts. The high school’s completion rate is 98%, which is 7% higher than that across South Dakota. Extracurricular activities include art club, Future Business Leaders of America, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America as well as National Honor Society. All three schools earn an A-minus grade from Niche.
Interstate 29 runs to Sioux City proper, Sioux Falls and Omaha
Interstate 29 runs through North Sioux City, connecting it to several major metro areas; downtown Sioux City is roughly less than 10 miles away, and the interstate continues south for a little over 90 miles to Omaha, Nebraska. It also travels to Sioux Falls, which is about 80 miles north of the community. Military Road is another, smaller thoroughfare drivers can use to reach Sioux City, and the Sioux City Transit System’s Riverside bus route connects the community to downtown as well. The Sioux Gateway Airport offers daily flights to the Chicago and Denver airports, where travelers can connect to other destinations.
Bob & Ellen’s, Skyline Bar & Casino and several fast-food chains
Several fast-food chains — including Taco John’s, Casey’s, McDonald’s and Subway — as well as a few local restaurants are scattered around River Drive. Bob & Ellen’s prides itself on being “something to write home about,” serving pizza, sandwiches, salads, specialty coffee, ice cream and smoothies. The Skyline Bar & Casino offers a dive-bar atmosphere with slot machines, darts and a pool table. For groceries, residents can travel south along Interstate 25 toward Sioux City proper for Fareway Meat & Grocery, Save A Lot or Walmart Supercenter.
