Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 22 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $23,946 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 85°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
48% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $440/mo less ($965 vs $1,405)
Homes cost $114k less ($250,000 vs $363,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $23,946/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
Anchorage
Median Income
$23,946
$95,731 vs $71,785/yr
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
48% lower
526.7 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$114k less
$250,000 vs $363,800
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 25.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 45.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 22 categories. Anchorage wins 7 and Sioux Falls wins 15. 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 Anchorage to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $250,000 median home), income ($95,731 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Sioux Falls, SD are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.