Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rialto, CA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Rialto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
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.
Rialto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 25°F
Households earn $8,965 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($250,000 vs $418,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.0 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($965 vs $1,553)
18% less violent crime than Rialto
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
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 Rialto by $8,965/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rialto
Median Income
$8,965
$80,750 vs $71,785/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
18% lower
526.7 vs 641.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$168k less
$250,000 vs $418,300
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
2.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rialto, CA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $418,300⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,553⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,750 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rialto Unified | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,873 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rialto's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Rialto wins 8 and Sioux Falls wins 15. 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 Rialto to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($418,300 vs $250,000 median home), income ($80,750 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rialto, CA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.