Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $23,987/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Households earn $23,987 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Rent averages $80/mo less ($965 vs $1,045)
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
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
23% lower
406.1 vs 526.7 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$23,987
$71,785 vs $47,798/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Sioux Falls wins 12. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $250,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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