Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Rosa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $20,819 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Sioux Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($250,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1059/mo less ($965 vs $2,024)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.3%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $20,819/yr
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
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$20,819
$92,604 vs $71,785/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
35% lower
342.6 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$412k less
$250,000 vs $661,700
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Rosa wins 9 and Sioux Falls wins 14. 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 Santa Rosa to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $250,000 median home), income ($92,604 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.