Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
43% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,761 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sioux Falls
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($250,000 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $507/mo less ($965 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (2.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
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
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $6,761/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$6,761
$78,546 vs $71,785/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
43% lower
302.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$167k less
$250,000 vs $416,500
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 45.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 9 and Sioux Falls wins 14. 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 Ann Arbor to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $250,000 median home), income ($78,546 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Sioux Falls, SD are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.