Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($167,900 vs $250,000)
50% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $79/mo less ($886 vs $965)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (3.9% vs 2.3%)
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $4,890/yr
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,890 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
50% lower
261.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$82k less
$167,900 vs $250,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.0 on the COL index
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$4,890
$71,785 vs $66,895/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $965 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 15 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 15 and Sioux Falls wins 8. 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 Cedar Rapids to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($66,895 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.