Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $793/mo less ($965 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $195k less ($250,000 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.3%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $23,279/yr
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Households earn $23,279 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 25°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Sioux Falls
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$195k less
$250,000 vs $445,200
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Income
$23,279
$95,064 vs $71,785/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
48% lower
273.6 vs 526.7 per 100k
Thornton
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 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- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 12 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($71,785 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Thornton, CO are about 491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.