Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
11
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.
Orem, UT
Pros
67% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,783 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Sioux Falls
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($250,000 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($965 vs $1,290)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°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
Median income trails Orem by $5,783/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$5,783
$77,568 vs $71,785/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
67% lower
174.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Orem
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$143k less
$250,000 vs $392,900
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 3.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem wins 12 and Sioux Falls wins 11. 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 Orem to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($77,568 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Sioux Falls, SD are about 800 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.