Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($158,500 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $18,361/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $18,361 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Rent averages $152/mo less ($965 vs $1,117)
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
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$92k less
$158,500 vs $250,000
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$18,361
$71,785 vs $53,424/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
20% lower
526.7 vs 660.2 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 5 and Sioux Falls wins 18. 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 Fayetteville to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $250,000 median home), income ($53,424 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.