Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($121,100 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $21,932/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
56% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $21,932 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.3%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Evansville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 90.3 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$129k less
$121,100 vs $250,000
Evansville
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$21,932
$71,785 vs $49,853/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
56% lower
526.7 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $965 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 9 and Sioux Falls wins 14. 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 Evansville to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $250,000 median home), income ($49,853 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Sioux Falls, SD are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.