Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
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.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($168,900 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sioux Falls
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $25,818/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $25,818 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Shreveport
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 90.3 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$81k less
$168,900 vs $250,000
Shreveport
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$25,818
$71,785 vs $45,967/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
57% lower
526.7 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
2.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.3 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $250,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $965 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $71,785 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ 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 | 15.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 23 categories. Shreveport 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 Shreveport to Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $250,000 median home), income ($45,967 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 782 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.