Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 15 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($250,000 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $758/mo less ($965 vs $1,723)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $70,599/yr
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
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $70,599 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Sioux Falls
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$206k less
$250,000 vs $456,400
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$70,599
$142,384 vs $71,785/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
55% lower
235.4 vs 526.7 per 100k
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 15 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 8 and The Woodlands wins 15. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $456,400 median home), income ($71,785 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and The Woodlands, TX are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.