Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 12 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $496/mo less ($965 vs $1,461)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°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
Median income trails South Fulton by $5,703/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
South Fulton, GA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 25°F
Households earn $5,703 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Median Income
$5,703
$77,488 vs $71,785/yr
South Fulton
Violent Crime
11% lower
470.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
South Fulton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 11 and South Fulton wins 12. 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 Sioux Falls to South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $242,200 median home), income ($71,785 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and South Fulton, GA are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.