Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
42% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $9,366 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
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
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($147,700 vs $250,000)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $9,366/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$9,366
$71,785 vs $62,419/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
42% lower
526.7 vs 901.2 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.3 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Home Value
$102k less
$147,700 vs $250,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 17.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 12 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $147,700 median home), income ($71,785 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Springfield, IL are about 448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.