Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,283 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 25°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $630k less ($250,000 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $980/mo less ($965 vs $1,945)
32% less violent crime than Seattle
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $44,283/yr
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
Seattle
Median Income
$44,283
$116,068 vs $71,785/yr
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
32% lower
526.7 vs 775.1 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$630k less
$250,000 vs $879,900
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.2% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 23 categories. Seattle 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 Seattle to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($116,068 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.