Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 14 of 22 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($965 vs $1,113)
Households earn $8,729 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
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
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Tyler, TX
Pros
26% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Homes cost $45k less ($205,200 vs $250,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $8,729/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.3%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Sioux Falls
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$8,729
$71,785 vs $63,056/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Violent Crime
26% lower
391.2 vs 526.7 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$45k less
$205,200 vs $250,000
Tyler
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 14 of 22 categories. Sioux Falls wins 14 and Tyler wins 8. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $205,200 median home), income ($71,785 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Tyler, TX are about 779 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.