Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Households earn $16,201 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.3%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
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
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($128,800 vs $250,000)
33% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 25°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $16,201/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$16,201
$71,785 vs $55,584/yr
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 90.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
33% lower
350.3 vs 526.7 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$121k less
$128,800 vs $250,000
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Sioux Falls wins 11 and Wichita Falls wins 12. 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $128,800 median home), income ($71,785 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Wichita Falls, TX are about 673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.