Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
18
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($86,200 vs $250,000)
Rent averages $135/mo less ($830 vs $965)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 25°F
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $30,342/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Households earn $30,342 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.7 pts lower (2.3%)
61% less violent crime than Dayton
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
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
Dayton
Median Home Value
$164k less
$86,200 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$30,342
$71,785 vs $41,443/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
61% lower
526.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
7.7 pp lower
2.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $965 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 5 and Sioux Falls wins 18. 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 Dayton to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $250,000 median home), income ($41,443 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Sioux Falls, SD are about 696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.