Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
9
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
68% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,886 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($250,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($965 vs $1,649)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (2.3%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $10,886/yr
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
Bend
Median Income
$10,886
$82,671 vs $71,785/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
68% lower
168.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$327k less
$250,000 vs $576,900
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Sioux Falls wins 9. 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 Bend to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.