Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 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 ✓ Safer
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (2.3%)
Households earn $24,108 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
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, MA
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($198,500 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $24,108/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$24,108
$71,785 vs $47,677/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
41% lower
526.7 vs 891.4 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
2.3% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Median Home Value
$52k less
$198,500 vs $250,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 18 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 18 and Springfield wins 5. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($71,785 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Springfield, MA are about 1,225 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.