Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($215,500 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 25°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $14,248/yr
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (2.3%)
42% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Rent averages $285/mo less ($965 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Households earn $14,248 more per year on average
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$35k less
$215,500 vs $250,000
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$14,248
$71,785 vs $57,537/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
42% lower
526.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ 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 | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 7 and Sioux Falls wins 16. 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 Philadelphia to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $250,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.