Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 18 of 22 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($250,000 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($965 vs $1,400)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Sioux Falls
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$4,597
$71,785 vs $67,188/yr
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$329k less
$250,000 vs $578,900
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 18 of 22 categories. Sioux Falls wins 18 and South Gate wins 4. 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $578,900 median home), income ($71,785 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and South Gate, CA are about 1,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.