Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sioux Falls, SD
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 15 of 21 categories
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
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 4.3 pts lower (2.3%)
Rent averages $347/mo less ($965 vs $1,312)
Homes cost $56k less ($250,000 vs $305,600)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Households earn $8,774 more per year on average
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
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 25°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Sioux Falls
Median income trails Sioux Falls by $8,774/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Income
$8,774
$71,785 vs $63,011/yr
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$56k less
$250,000 vs $305,600
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sioux Falls, SD | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,000 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $965 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,785 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 139⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 25.3°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 193,401 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sioux Falls's cost of living index is 90.3 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 15 of 21 categories. Sioux Falls wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,000 vs $305,600 median home), income ($71,785 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sioux Falls, SD and Worcester, MA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.