Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($155,200 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $22,888/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
65% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $22,888 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$95k less
$155,200 vs $250,000
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 84.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.0 on the COL index
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$22,888
$71,785 vs $48,897/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
65% lower
526.7 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $250,000 median home), income ($48,897 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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