Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Homes cost $20k less ($230,500 vs $250,000)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $14,082/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
36% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $14,082 more per year on average
Rent averages $101/mo less ($965 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
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
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$20k less
$230,500 vs $250,000
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$14,082
$71,785 vs $57,703/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
36% lower
526.7 vs 823.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 7 and Sioux Falls wins 15. 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 Chattanooga to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $250,000 median home), income ($57,703 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Sioux Falls, SD are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.