Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($172,700 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $11,157/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
24% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $11,157 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (2.3%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
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
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$77k less
$172,700 vs $250,000
Amarillo
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$11,157
$71,785 vs $60,628/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
24% lower
526.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 10 and Sioux Falls wins 13. 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 Amarillo to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $250,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Sioux Falls, SD are about 637 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.