Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 25°F
Households earn $5,870 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($250,000 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $547/mo less ($965 vs $1,512)
37% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
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 Atlanta by $5,870/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$5,870
$77,655 vs $71,785/yr
Atlanta
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
37% lower
526.7 vs 840.6 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$146k less
$250,000 vs $395,600
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 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 | 204⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $250,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.