Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 13 of 22 categories
Eugene
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
13
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
40% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $10,304/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($250,000 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($965 vs $1,269)
Households earn $10,304 more per year on average
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
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
Eugene
Violent Crime
40% lower
317.9 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$10,304
$71,785 vs $61,481/yr
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$156k less
$250,000 vs $406,000
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 13 of 22 categories. Eugene wins 9 and Sioux Falls wins 13. 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 Eugene to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $250,000 median home), income ($61,481 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.