Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $857/mo less ($965 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $103k less ($250,000 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Surprise by $15,971/yr
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $15,971 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$103k less
$250,000 vs $352,600
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$15,971
$87,756 vs $71,785/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
79% lower
109.1 vs 526.7 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 10 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($71,785 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Surprise, AZ are about 1,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.