Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 16 of 22 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401
St. Paul
Minnesota
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
15% less violent crime than St. Paul
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $209/mo less ($965 vs $1,174)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
St. Paul, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$1,866
$71,785 vs $69,919/yr
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
15% lower
526.7 vs 617.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$15k less
$250,000 vs $264,900
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ 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) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 16 of 22 categories. Sioux Falls wins 16 and St. Paul wins 6. 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. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,785 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and St. Paul, MN are about 204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.