Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $15k less ($234,900 vs $250,000)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sioux Falls
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $12,935/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
51% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $12,935 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$15k less
$234,900 vs $250,000
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$12,935
$71,785 vs $58,850/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
51% lower
526.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Sioux Falls wins 14. 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 Lafayette to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($58,850 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 957 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.