Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dearborn, MI
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 22 categories
Dearborn
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
108,414
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Dearborn, MI
Pros
44% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Homes cost $61k less ($189,400 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 25°F
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $7,185/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($965 vs $1,205)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,185 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Dearborn
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
Dearborn
Violent Crime
44% lower
292.6 vs 526.7 per 100k
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$61k less
$189,400 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$7,185
$71,785 vs $64,600/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dearborn, MI | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $189,400 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,205 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,600 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dearborn City School District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.0°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.0" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,414 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.1% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dearborn's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 22 categories. Dearborn wins 10 and Sioux Falls wins 12. 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 Dearborn to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($189,400 vs $250,000 median home), income ($64,600 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dearborn, MI and Sioux Falls, SD are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.