Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($171,600 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Sioux Falls
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $7,087/yr
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (2.3%)
7% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $194/mo less ($965 vs $1,159)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
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
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$78k less
$171,600 vs $250,000
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$7,087
$71,785 vs $64,698/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
7% lower
526.7 vs 566.1 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $250,000 median home), income ($64,698 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Sioux Falls, SD are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.