Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
17
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.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $19,051/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (2.3%)
29% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $19,051 more per year on average
Homes cost $78k less ($250,000 vs $328,100)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$19,051
$71,785 vs $52,734/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
29% lower
526.7 vs 742.9 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$78k less
$250,000 vs $328,100
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 6 and Sioux Falls wins 17. 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 Fall River to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $250,000 median home), income ($52,734 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.