Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
75% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $43,394 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sioux Falls
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $874/mo less ($965 vs $1,839)
Homes cost $204k less ($250,000 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (2.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $43,394/yr
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
Gilbert
Median Income
$43,394
$115,179 vs $71,785/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
75% lower
132.2 vs 526.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$204k less
$250,000 vs $454,300
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 16 and Sioux Falls wins 7. 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 Gilbert to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $250,000 median home), income ($115,179 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,074 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.