Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401
Spring Valley
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $558/mo less ($965 vs $1,523)
Homes cost $125k less ($250,000 vs $375,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Spring Valley
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°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
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
82% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,523/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $375,200
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$2,444
$71,785 vs $69,341/yr
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$125k less
$250,000 vs $375,200
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
82% lower
94.1 vs 526.7 per 100k
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $375,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,523⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 12 and Spring Valley wins 11. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $375,200 median home), income ($71,785 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Spring Valley, NV are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.