Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
St. Louis
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
61% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $18,844 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
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
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($174,100 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $18,844/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$18,844
$71,785 vs $52,941/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
61% lower
526.7 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$76k less
$174,100 vs $250,000
St. Louis
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 11 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($71,785 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and St. Louis, MO are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.