Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
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.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,042 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $461/mo less ($965 vs $1,426)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $41k less ($250,000 vs $290,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $14,042/yr
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
New Braunfels
Median Income
$14,042
$85,827 vs $71,785/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
70% lower
156.4 vs 526.7 per 100k
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$41k less
$250,000 vs $290,800
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 13 of 23 categories. New Braunfels wins 13 and Sioux Falls wins 10. 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 New Braunfels to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $250,000 median home), income ($85,827 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Sioux Falls, SD are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.