Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($213,300 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 25°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $14,631/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
30% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($965 vs $1,225)
Households earn $14,631 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$37k less
$213,300 vs $250,000
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$14,631
$71,785 vs $57,154/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
30% lower
526.7 vs 752.4 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $250,000 median home), income ($57,154 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.