Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
17
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($198,900 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 25°F
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $29,944/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.3 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $29,944 more per year on average
Rent averages $189/mo less ($965 vs $1,154)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Hartford
Violent Crime
2% lower
515.8 vs 526.7 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$51k less
$198,900 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$29,944
$71,785 vs $41,841/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
8.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 45.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories. Hartford 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 Hartford to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($41,841 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.