Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($192,000 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $22,594/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Households earn $22,594 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
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
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$58k less
$192,000 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$22,594
$71,785 vs $49,191/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
38% lower
526.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $965 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 8 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 Cincinnati to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $250,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Sioux Falls, SD are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.