Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($150,800 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $14,370/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.3%)
8% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $14,370 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 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
Independence
Median Home Value
$99k less
$150,800 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$14,370
$71,785 vs $57,415/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
8% lower
526.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Independence wins 8 and Sioux Falls wins 15. 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 Independence to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $250,000 median home), income ($57,415 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Sioux Falls, SD are about 332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.