Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $61,074 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($250,000 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $534/mo less ($965 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $61,074/yr
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
Carmel
Median Income
$61,074
$132,859 vs $71,785/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
87% lower
66.0 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$176k less
$250,000 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 13 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 Carmel to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Sioux Falls, SD are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.