Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 El Paso leads 12 of 22 categories
El Paso
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($159,300 vs $250,000)
47% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $16,075/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $16,075 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°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
El Paso
Violent Crime
47% lower
278.4 vs 526.7 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$91k less
$159,300 vs $250,000
El Paso
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 84.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.2 on the COL index
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$16,075
$71,785 vs $55,710/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 22 categories. El Paso wins 12 and Sioux Falls wins 10. 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 El Paso to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $250,000 median home), income ($55,710 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Sioux Falls, SD are about 965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.