Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $23,785 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 25°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Sioux Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($250,000 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1205/mo less ($965 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.3%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $23,785/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
Boca Raton
Median Income
$23,785
$95,570 vs $71,785/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
68% lower
171.0 vs 526.7 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$347k less
$250,000 vs $597,100
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $250,000 median home), income ($95,570 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.