Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($250,000 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $929/mo less ($965 vs $1,894)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (2.3%)
29% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vallejo by $14,327/yr
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,327 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Sioux Falls
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Violent Crime
29% lower
526.7 vs 739.8 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$266k less
$250,000 vs $515,500
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Median Income
$14,327
$86,112 vs $71,785/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 16 and Vallejo wins 7. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($71,785 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Vallejo, CA are about 1,380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.