Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
17
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.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $19,693/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.2 pts lower (2.3%)
46% less violent crime than Paterson
Rent averages $427/mo less ($965 vs $1,392)
Households earn $19,693 more per year on average
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Homes cost $64k less ($250,000 vs $314,100)
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
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$19,693
$71,785 vs $52,092/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
46% lower
526.7 vs 978.6 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$64k less
$250,000 vs $314,100
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
8.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ 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 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 17 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 6 and Sioux Falls wins 17. 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 Paterson to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $250,000 median home), income ($52,092 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.