Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Allen leads 14 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $49,474 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $782/mo less ($965 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $140k less ($250,000 vs $390,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $49,474/yr
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$49,474
$121,259 vs $71,785/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
80% lower
106.4 vs 526.7 per 100k
Allen
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$140k less
$250,000 vs $390,200
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 14 of 23 categories. Allen wins 14 and Sioux Falls wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $250,000 median home), income ($121,259 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Sioux Falls, SD are about 721 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.