Below Average CostNear National AverageSioux Falls School District 49-5
Downtown and Falls Park 03-16-24 · Maxpower2727 / CC0Washington Pavilion 8 · AlexiusHoratius / CC BY-SA 3.0Premier Center Side 05-11-15 · Maxpower2727 / CC BY-SA 4.0Old Main & East Hall Augustana 1 · AlexiusHoratius / CC BY-SA 3.0
Sioux Falls is a mid-sized city of 193,401 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $71,785
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sioux Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sioux Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sioux Falls 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: 90.3
Sioux Falls's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sioux Falls costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sioux Falls, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$250,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$965
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,785
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sioux Falls's violent crime rate is 526.7 per 100,000 residents
— 39% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
526.7 /100k
Property Crime
2915.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sioux Falls is served primarily by Sioux Falls School District 49-5.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sioux Falls, SD
National Avg
School District
Sioux Falls School District 49-5
—
Elementary Schools
25
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
8
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
37.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sioux Falls sees average highs of 25.3°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 28.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.3 inches of snow per year.
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sioux Falls roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $250,000 and median rent is $965/month.
Sioux Falls's violent crime rate is 526.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2915.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sioux Falls are operated by Sioux Falls School District 49-5.
The district has 25 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 37.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sioux Falls, SD has a population of 193,401, a median household income of $71,785, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
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.
Sioux Falls averages 25.3°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.3 inches
with about 45.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sioux Falls, SD is covered by 9 ZIP codes: 57104, 57108, 57106, 57107, 57110, 57103, 57105, 57117, 57197.
The population of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is 193,401 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sioux Falls: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $250,000, median household income $71,785, crime index 139 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sioux Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
