Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
18
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($111,400 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $27,629/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Households earn $27,629 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (2.3%)
10% less violent crime than Rochester
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Rochester
Median Home Value
$139k less
$111,400 vs $250,000
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$27,629
$71,785 vs $44,156/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
10% lower
526.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 45.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 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 18 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 5 and Sioux Falls wins 18. 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 Rochester to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $250,000 median home), income ($44,156 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Sioux Falls, SD are about 959 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.