Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $7,975/yr
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($250,000 vs $376,800)
34% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $285/mo less ($965 vs $1,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $7,975 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
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
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$7,975
$71,785 vs $63,810/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
34% lower
526.7 vs 796.1 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$127k less
$250,000 vs $376,800
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville 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 Asheville to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $250,000 median home), income ($63,810 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Sioux Falls, SD are about 933 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.