Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
39% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 25°F
Households earn $8,458 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $670k less ($250,000 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $888/mo less ($965 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.3%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
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
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Boulder by $8,458/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$8,458
$80,243 vs $71,785/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
39% lower
322.3 vs 526.7 per 100k
Boulder
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$670k less
$250,000 vs $919,700
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 45.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $250,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Sioux Falls, SD are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.