Sibley provides a rural lifestyle mixed with convenience
Sibley is a small city surrounded by the vast farmland and open plains of northern Iowa. “What it really has going for it is you can raise your kids in the small-town atmosphere where neighbors look out for each other, but you also have everything that bigger towns have to offer,” says Susan Sembach, Sibley's city manager and clerk. “We moved here eight years ago, and it was the best decision we’ve ever made.” Though the area seems secluded, locals can access schools, shopping, dining options and parks within minutes.
Relatively affordable suburban housing
Most of the market consists of single-family ranch-style homes, but Cape Cods and split-levels are also common. Streets are suburban, with sidewalks and modest lawns shaded by oaks and maples. Properties typically have garages and driveways, keeping parked cars off the roads. The median sales price is about $170,000, lower than in bigger cities nearby, like Worthington, Minnesota, where the median is $260,000.
Plenty of parks and facilities for exercise
From the paved walkways through town, maintained by the Osceola Recreational Trails Association, to the picnic areas at Sunrise Park, residents have many outdoor options. The Sam Robinson Memorial Park is one of the largest green spaces and features a campground and a fishing pond. The park is also next to the Sibley Golf Course and the Sibley Outdoor Aquatic Center, both open to the public. Sibley Central Park has baseball diamonds, tennis and pickleball courts, and a playground. The city is 35 miles west of the Iowa Great Lakes for a beach and boat day.
Downtown dining and major retailers close by
Ninth Street is the center of downtown Sibley. Local businesses and restaurants line a brick-paved stretch of the road, and streetlamps adorned with flower planters dot the sidewalks. The Lantern Coffeehouse & Roastery is a popular spot to work remotely or grab a pastry, and Shaughnessy’s sells freshly baked goods. The restaurant, 1015 Steak Company, offers a finer dining experience, and reBar Lounge & Lanes is a pub that doubles as a bowling alley. The Sibley Super Foods and Dollar General cover everyday necessities, while big-box stores like Walmart and Hy-Vee are 20 miles north in Worthington.
Attending the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District
Children begin their education at Sibley-Ocheyedan Elementary, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche. Sibley-Ocheyedan Middle and Sibley-Ocheyedan High both receive B grades. Students can choose from numerous athletic programs, including a rifle shooting team for fourth through 12th graders.
Annual traditions and frequent fundraisers
Sibley hosts a few community events throughout the year. Each June, the Good Ole Summertime festival at Central Park rings in the season with live music, a pickleball tournament and other activities, including a celebrity dunk tank. The Harvest Festival kicks off in the fall with trunk-or-treating and carnival games, and in late November, residents gather on Ninth Street for a Christmas parade. The Osceola County Fair in Sibley attracts visitors from all over the region, and the chamber of commerce often runs smaller fundraisers, like cook-offs and bingo nights.
Two main highways nearby and access to medical care
State Route 60 is the largest thoroughfare in town and leads to Worthington, 20 miles northeast. State Route 9 is also close by and runs toward Sioux Falls, 55 miles west. Residents can take public buses by request. “It’s called the Osceola City Bus, and for a small fee, you can call it, and it’ll pick you up from your house or the grocery store,” Sembach says. The Osceola Regional Health Center provides medical services within the city.
